DAHER
Daher TBM 960
The Daher TBM 960 is the fastest single-engine turboprop in production — 330 kts cruise, fully-digital Garmin G3000 deck and Pratt & Whitney PT6E-66XT engine with autothrottle.
FULL DAHER TBM 960 PAGE →
TBM 960 vs Grand Caravan EX
A head-to-head look at two of the most-chartered aircraft in the turboprop class.
CESSNA
Cessna Grand Caravan EX
The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is the world's most popular utility turboprop. Nine passengers, rugged short-strip capability and proven Pratt & Whitney power make it the default choice for Caribbean, Greek and Indian Ocean island hopping.
FULL CESSNA GRAND CARAVAN EX PAGE →SPECIFICATIONS
Side-by-side specifications
| METRIC | TBM 960 | Grand Caravan EX |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 5 | 9 |
| Range | 1,730 nm | 964 nm |
| Cruise speed | 330 kts | 186 kts |
| Cabin height | 4'0" | 4'6" |
| Cabin width | 3'11" | 5'3" |
| Baggage | 16 cu ft | 111 cu ft |
| Runway | 2,380 ft | 2,055 ft |
Daher TBM 960 — strengths
- —Fastest single-engine turboprop in service
- —Lowest hourly cost in pressurised aircraft class
- —Short-runway capable
Cessna Grand Caravan EX — strengths
- —Most popular island-hopper in service
- —Short and unpaved runway capability
- —Proven Pratt & Whitney PT6 engines
CHARTER PRICING
Indicative pricing
DAHER TBM 960
| Teterboro → Martha's Vineyard | from $4,800 |
| Munich → Innsbruck | from €4,200 |
CESSNA GRAND CARAVAN EX
| Nassau → Exuma | from $2,200 |
| Mahé → Praslin | from $2,500 |
All-inclusive indicative one-way pricing. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes.
EXPERT VERDICT
The Grand Caravan EX is the stronger all-rounder, but the TBM 960 still wins where it counts for the right mission.
The TBM 960 pulls ahead on range / non-stop reach; the Grand Caravan EX answers with cabin comfort, group capacity and airport access. Both sit in the turboprop class, so charter pricing is broadly aligned — let the use case (range, group size, airport pair) drive the final call.
Range / non-stop reach
TBM 960
1,730 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.
Cabin comfort
Grand Caravan EX
Taller and/or wider cabin (4'6" × 5'3") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.
Group capacity
Grand Caravan EX
Seats up to 9 — the right pick when the manifest grows.
Airport access
Grand Caravan EX
Shorter 2,055 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.
Speed & block time
Even
Comparable on this dimension.
Verdict based on published manufacturer specifications, charter market data and Limitless Sky brokerage experience.
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Charter the TBM 960 or the Grand Caravan EX.
Tell us your route — our desk returns a confirmed quote on both aircraft within 10 minutes, so you can compare like-for-like on your exact mission.
CHOOSE WITH CONFIDENCE
Top reasons to choose — and who each aircraft is best for
A tailored summary for the TBM 960 and Grand Caravan EX: the deciding reasons in this matchup, plus the buyer archetypes each aircraft serves best.
DAHER
Top reasons to choose the TBM 960
- ★Reaches 1,730 nm non-stop — 79% more range than the Grand Caravan EX, opening city pairs that would otherwise need a tech stop.
- ★Fastest single-engine turboprop in service
- ★Lowest hourly cost in pressurised aircraft class
- ★Short-runway capable
BEST FOR
Longer non-stop reach
When the mission is on the edge of the Grand Caravan EX's envelope, the 1,730 nm legs of the TBM 960 keep reserves intact.
Island & alpine access
Short, unpaved or high-altitude strips that jets simply cannot use.
Sub-500 nm hops
Operating cost per seat-mile beats every jet on quick regional legs.
Cargo-heavy missions
Large cabin door and floor loading for ski, dive and field-kit travel.
CESSNA
Top reasons to choose the Grand Caravan EX
- ★Bigger cabin envelope (4'6" tall × 5'3" wide) than the TBM 960 — meaningful difference on flights over three hours.
- ★Seats up to 9 passengers vs 5 on the TBM 960 — better for full-group charters and family travel.
- ★Lands in 2,055 ft balanced field — accesses short, restricted and city-adjacent airports the TBM 960 cannot.
- ★111 cu ft of baggage volume — fits ski, golf and extended-stay luggage that crowds the TBM 960.
- ★Most popular island-hopper in service
BEST FOR
Larger party charters
Up to 9 seats vs 5 on the TBM 960 — the natural pick when the manifest grows last-minute.
Short-field departures
2,055 ft balanced field unlocks airports the TBM 960 cannot use, putting passengers closer to the door.
Island & alpine access
Short, unpaved or high-altitude strips that jets simply cannot use.
Sub-500 nm hops
Operating cost per seat-mile beats every jet on quick regional legs.
PROS & CONS
Honest assessment
DAHER
Daher TBM 960
PROS
- +Fastest single-engine turboprop in service
- +Lowest hourly cost in pressurised aircraft class
- +Short-runway capable
- +Longer legs than the Grand Caravan EX (1,730 nm vs 964 nm) — fewer fuel stops on intercontinental missions.
CONS
- −Maximum 5-seat layout is tight if you regularly travel with more than 5 — the Grand Caravan EX adds 4 seats.
- −Lower ceiling than the Grand Caravan EX (4'0" vs 4'6") — stand-up movement is restricted.
- −Tighter baggage capacity than the Grand Caravan EX (16 cu ft vs 111 cu ft).
CESSNA
Cessna Grand Caravan EX
PROS
- +Most popular island-hopper in service
- +Short and unpaved runway capability
- +Proven Pratt & Whitney PT6 engines
- +Carries up to 9 passengers vs 5 on the TBM 960 — better for larger groups.
- +Taller cabin (4'6") than the TBM 960 — easier to move around on long flights.
- +Wider cabin (5'3") makes a meaningful difference at the shoulders vs the TBM 960.
CONS
- −Shorter range than the TBM 960 (964 nm vs 1,730 nm) — may require a tech stop on long sectors.
REAL-WORLD MISSIONS
Which aircraft for which mission
Four scenarios our charter desk sees regularly — and which of these two we would actually quote.
SCENARIO 01
Ski-week shuttle into a short alpine strip
OUR PICKGrand Caravan EX
Shorter runway requirement (2,055 ft) opens up the airfield.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 02
Coastal island hop with bicycles and dive gear
OUR PICKGrand Caravan EX
Shorter runway requirement (2,055 ft) opens up the airfield.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 03
Regional medevac repositioning with stretcher kit
OUR PICKGrand Caravan EX
Shorter runway requirement (2,055 ft) opens up the airfield.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 04
Field-visit tour across three regional airports in one day
OUR PICKGrand Caravan EX
Shorter runway requirement (2,055 ft) opens up the airfield.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS
Best pick per route
| ROUTE | DISTANCE | RECOMMENDED | WHY |
|---|---|---|---|
| London → Le Touquet | 120 nm | TBM 960 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Zurich → St Moritz | 95 nm | TBM 960 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Aspen → Telluride | 115 nm | TBM 960 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Nantucket → Teterboro | 180 nm | TBM 960 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
Distances are great-circle approximations; actual fuel planning accounts for winds, weather and reserves.
FAQ
TBM 960 vs Grand Caravan EX — frequently asked
TBM 960 vs Grand Caravan EX: which has the longer range?OPEN
The Daher TBM 960 has a published range of 1,730 nm; the Cessna Grand Caravan EX is rated at 964 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.
Which is faster — TBM 960 or Grand Caravan EX?OPEN
Cruise speeds are 330 kts for the Daher TBM 960 and 186 kts for the Cessna Grand Caravan EX. On a Teterboro → Martha's Vineyard-style mission the faster aircraft typically saves 10–25 minutes block time.
How many passengers does each aircraft carry?OPEN
The Daher TBM 960 seats 5; the Cessna Grand Caravan EX seats 9. Charter prices below assume a typical executive layout — high-density configurations are available on request.
What does it cost to charter the Daher TBM 960 vs the Cessna Grand Caravan EX?OPEN
Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: Daher TBM 960 from from $4,800, Cessna Grand Caravan EX from from $2,200. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes — pricing varies with empty-leg availability, season and routing.
Which aircraft is better for transatlantic or long-range missions?OPEN
Both belong to the Turboprop category, but range, payload and runway performance differ. See the route-recommendations table on this page for our specific pick per corridor.
MORE COMPARISONS
Compare more turboprops
TBM 960 × GRAND CARAVAN EX CLUSTER
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