Central Mountain Air

Inside Central Mountain Air’s Fleet

How big is the fleet?

Central Mountain Air (IATA: 9M) runs a compact, highly versatile fleet tailored to short hops across British Columbia and Alberta. At any given time, you’ll find roughly 20 turboprops in active service, with the exact count flexing slightly as aircraft rotate through maintenance or charter assignments. The mix centers on proven regional workhorses that balance reliability, short‑runway performance, and cabin comfort for small communities.

• Beechcraft 1900D — up to 19 seats, all‑economy
• Dornier 328‑100 (turboprop) — about 30–32 seats, 2‑1 seating
• De Havilland Dash 8‑300 (Q300) — about 50 seats, 2‑2 seating

The aircraft you’ll see most

The backbone of the operation is the Beechcraft 1900D, a pressurized commuter with a rare stand‑up cabin for its size. With single seats on each side of the aisle, every spot is simultaneously a window and an aisle seat—an underlined perk on quick flights. Turnarounds are fast, overhead space is limited, and small carry‑ons are often gate‑checked, which is typical for 19‑seat aircraft. Expect a straightforward, all‑economy layout designed for agility on short sectors and performance at mountainous airports.

On busier routes, you’ll encounter the Dornier 328‑100 and Dash 8‑300. The Dornier stands out as one of the fastest turboprops in its class, cruising briskly while offering a quiet cabin with 2‑1 seating that feels almost boutique. The Q300 steps in when demand spikes, bringing 2‑2 seating and around 50 seats without sacrificing short‑field capability. Together, these types let the airline right‑size capacity day by day and airport by airport—exactly what regional flying in rugged terrain requires.

Newest and oldest in service

While the 1900D and Dornier 328 families date from the 1990s and early 2000s, many airframes have been thoughtfully refreshed inside and out. The newest additions to the operation in recent years have tended to be Dash 8‑300s, acquired to upgauge popular links and charters with a modernized interior feel. The oldest frames are generally among the earlier‑build 1900Ds, still prized for their efficiency and runway performance, especially at smaller communities where larger aircraft aren’t practical. In practice, careful maintenance and cabin updates matter more than the airframe’s birth year for what you experience onboard.

What’s ahead: orders and retirements

For a regional carrier, evolution often comes through selective acquisitions rather than flashy new‑build orders. Central Mountain Air’s near‑term path focuses on incremental upgauging with Q300s where demand warrants, while keeping the 19‑seat 1900D essential for thinner routes. Expect targeted retirements of the oldest 1900Ds as heavy checks come due and opportunistic leases or purchases of proven turboprops to keep the mix efficient. As of now, there are no widely announced large aircraft orders, which is typical for a specialized regional fleet.

Sustainability on short hops

Turboprops are a smart fit for short, mountainous sectors: they typically burn less fuel than jets over these distances, lowering CO₂ per trip. Central Mountain Air’s approach leans on operational efficiency—from weight‑saving cabin refreshes and electronic flight bags to optimized altitudes and continuous‑descent profiles where procedures allow. Upgauging peak flights to the Q300 can reduce emissions per seat by flying more passengers on fewer rotations. The airline also monitors SAF availability at larger airports and industry developments, aiming to adopt sustainable practices pragmatically as supply in Western Canada grows.

Good‑to‑know aircraft tidbits

• The 1900D tops out at 19 seats, which means flights can legally operate without a cabin crew—one reason it’s so cost‑effective for remote routes.
• The Dornier 328‑100 is among the fastest turboprops in regional service, helping keep block times competitive over longer coastal or interior legs.
• The Dash 8‑300 blends short‑runway performance with a larger cabin, making it ideal for peak‑time schedules and group charters.
• All types are pressurized, supporting reliable operations over mountain passes and in variable weather—key in Western Canada.

If you’re choosing between flights, here’s the simple takeaway: the 1900D is the nimble connector, the Dornier adds speed and a cozier 2‑1 layout, and the Q300 brings roomy capacity when demand spikes. Different tools, same goal—getting you to smaller communities safely and on time with the right airplane for the job.