Summary FedEx, Ameriflight, Silver Airways, Boutique Air are among carriers utilizing turboprop-driven planes in the US. They are mostly used on cargo routes with only 3 operators carrying passengers Turboprop carriers offer efficient delivery in rural areas with lower operating costs than larger jet carriers. The United States hosts some of the most remote communities globally, resulting in smaller airports with shorter runways.
While specific jets, such as the Embraer E-jets, are somewhat suitable for such environments, turboprop aircraft are significantly better equipped. Presently, the number of airlines operating such aircraft lags behind that of their neighbor to the north, Canada. Nonetheless, we will analyze five carriers recognized for using propeller-driven aircraft.
1 FedEx The freight giant. Aircraft Currently in service ATR 72 40 ATR 42 16 Cessna Sky Courrier 19 European readers will know that the local FedEx decision has ATRs operated under contract with ASL Airlines. This is also the case in the US, with most ATRs acting as feeders between smaller airfields and significant hubs and the Skycouriers, who serve small communities.
To some, this may seem surprising because FX is associated with A300s, MD11s, and 777s, but using these smaller aircraft makes perfect sense; they allow parcels and more miniature goods to be delivered almost anywhere in the US and allow expedited delivery. This is at the heart of the business model of major delivery companies like them. Having a modern fleet of regional turboprops allows FedEx to lower costs, as they are more fuel efficient than older-generation dedicated freighters like the Saab 340.
2 Ameriflight The all turboprop freight carrier Aircraft In service EMB-120 Brasilia 12 Saab 340 4 Headquartered at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport , this company ranks as the largest United States FAA Part 135 cargo carrier. It specializes in operating scheduled and contract cargo services from 19 bases to a vast network encompassing 250 cities across 43 US states and locations in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America. The table shows some of the freighters operated by the airline, but it is important to note that it also operates passenger aircraft whose seats are used for cargo missions, like the Fairchild Metroliner.
What makes this airline stand out compared to its competitors like Fedex is the decision to only use turboprops. While this reduces overall capacity, it allows Ameriflight to really focus on rural towns around the hubs. 3 Silver Airways The leading US Turboprop carrier Aircraft in operation ATR 72 6 ATR 42 8 Sure, Silver Airways does not have the same fleet size as FedEx, but it still qualifies as the main US turboprop passenger airline, with a total of 14 ATRs in service.
The airline had a more extensive fleet, including twenty-one Beechcraft 1900Ds that were part of the fleet from 2011 until 2014. These aircraft were inherited from Gulfstream International Airlines. Additionally, the airline was well-known for its distinctive Saab 340s, operational from 2011 until they were retired in 2022.
Furthermore, the fleet saw the introduction of five ATR 72-500Fs in 2021, but they were retired in 2023 following Amazon's termination of the contract. The agreement will give Azul passengers more choices in the US and the Caribbean. 4 Ravn Alaska The Northern Propeller airline Aircraft In service Dash 8 100 7 In early 2009, HoTH Inc.
, the holding company that owned Hageland Aviation Services and Frontier Flying Service, completed the acquisition of Era Aviation. However, Era Helicopters was not included in this acquisition as it had previously ceased common ownership with Era Aviation on July 1, 2004, when both were under SEACOR ownership. In October 2009, HoTH Inc.
also purchased Arctic Circle Air Service, a local cargo airline. The unified air group rebranded itself as Era Alaska, leveraging Era's well-established name. In January 2014, the companies underwent another round of renaming in a strategic effort to reduce confusion and differentiate themselves from other entities bearing the Era name.
This move included the change of Era Alaska to Ravn Alaska , Era Airlines to Corvus Airlines, and the retention of the names Hageland Aviation Services and Frontier Flying Service, which both began operating as Ravn Connect. Notably, this change was made to distinguish the company from the former division and original operation of predecessor Era Aviation, known at the time as Era Helicopters/Era Group, which had become a publicly traded independent entity. From bankruptcy to rising again, and laying off hundreds of employees, the carrier's ride hasn't been smooth.
5 Boutique Air Fly in a VVIP Turbo prop Aircraft in service PC12 21 According to their website Boutique Air is an air carrier that conducts both scheduled and charter air service. They are famous for their swiss made Pilatus PC-12. These are typically used by private jet operators or wealthy private owners and are a common sight in swiss and European alpine airports due to its short runway capabilities - it can go to small airports, which is exactly what Boutique Air does on their Essential Air Service missions.
The airline services routes in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas. Yes, flying on a turboprop in the USA is a little bit more challenging than in other countries - most of them are cargo operators and since you cannot mail yourself just to fly on a Metroliner , there are effectively only three airlines that will let you fly commercially on them. But this makes it more exotic and therefore more enjoyable.
If you absolutely want to fly on a Dash 8 Q400 or want to be 100% sure to get the "authentic" regional flying experience, then you should also try them in Canada..
