Islandhopper adds Cessna 402 to Statia fleet for regional links

Dutch Caribbean Islandhopper has added a Cessna 402, registered PH-DCE, to its fleet on Statia, the airline said. The ten-seat aircraft will be repainted in the airline’s livery before entering service.

The airline said PH-DCE will allow connections from Statia to St. Kitts, French Saint-Martin, Guadeloupe, Antigua, Dominica and the British Virgin Islands. It said the aircraft will officially join its fleet after repainting.

According to Dutch Caribbean Islandhopper, the aircraft has a top speed of 229 knots, or 424 km/h, and a range of up to 2,530 km. The airline said PH-DCE flew to Statia from Apeldoorn in the Netherlands via Germany, Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, the United States, the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.

Dutch Caribbean Islandhopper said PH-DCE is the first aircraft registered in the Caribbean Netherlands and carries Dutch PH registration marks. The airline said it expects to add more destinations.