IATA BEHICAO B190

Beechcraft 1900

Beechcraft

TravelerPulse profile

Rugged regional turboprop serving short-haul commuter routes.

First flight

1982

Category

Regional turboprop

Seating

Range

2,777 km

Engines

Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67D turboprops

Status

In service

The Beechcraft 1900 is a 19-passenger regional turboprop airliner developed by Beechcraft (now part of Textron Aviation) from its earlier King Air and Super King Air lineage. It was designed primarily for commuter and feeder airline operations, offering pressurized cabin comfort and twin-engine reliability in markets where jet service is economically unviable. The aircraft entered service in the mid-1980s and quickly became a staple of regional aviation in North America and worldwide. The definitive 1900D variant introduced a stand-up cabin with increased headroom, significantly improving passenger comfort. Its PT6A turboprop engines and straightforward systems gave operators lower operating costs and high dispatch reliability. Though no longer in production, large numbers of 1900s remain in active service globally, particularly with regional carriers in Africa, South America, and North America. Its rugged airframe and ability to operate from short or unpaved strips have made it especially popular in remote and developing regions.

Notable operators

Great Lakes Airlines, Cape Air, Mesa Air, and numerous African and Latin American regional carriers have been notable operators of the Beechcraft 1900.

Notable facts

›The 1900D variant introduced a stand-up cabin, a major comfort improvement over earlier regional turboprops of its size.
›Over 690 Beechcraft 1900s were built before production ended in 2002.
›The design is derived from the Beechcraft Super King Air 200 platform.
›Its 19-seat capacity was deliberately chosen to avoid more stringent U.S. FAA certification requirements for larger aircraft.
›The aircraft can operate from unpaved or gravel airstrips, making it valuable in remote regions.