Cape Air

Cape Air (ICAO: KAP) is a prominent regional airline in the United States, known for its extensive network connecting smaller communities.

Cape Air was co-founded in 1988 by company pilots Craig Stewart and Dan Wolf, along with investor Grant Wilson, with its inaugural scheduled commuter service beginning in 1989 between Provincetown and Boston, Massachusetts. The airline expanded throughout the early 1990s, adding routes across Cape Cod and southeastern New England. A significant development occurred in 1994 with the merger of Cape Air and Nantucket Airlines. The airline further extended its reach into Florida in 1993 and established a network in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean in 1998. From 2004 to 2018, Cape Air also provided services in Micronesia, including routes between Guam, Rota, and Saipan.

The airline is headquartered at Cape Cod Gateway Airport in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Its main operational hubs are strategically located to serve its diverse network and include Boston Logan International Airport (Northeast), Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, St. Louis Lambert International Airport (Midwest), and San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (Caribbean). Cape Air operates a fleet primarily composed of small, 9-seat aircraft. The current fleet comprises 64 Cessna 402s, 30 Tecnam P2012 Travellers, and 4 Britten-Norman Islanders. Historically, it also operated ATR 42 turboprop aircraft in Micronesia from 2004-2018. The airline has also announced plans to add Eviation Alice electric aircraft to its fleet in the future.

Cape Air's route network has a strong regional focus, providing scheduled passenger services across the Northeast, the Caribbean, and Eastern Montana. It serves over 30 destinations in various U.S. states, including Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, as well as several Caribbean islands such as Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, St. Barthélemy, St. Kitts, and Nevis. While Cape Air is not a member of any major global airline alliance like Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or Oneworld, it maintains extensive interline and codeshare agreements with major carriers such as American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Condor Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines. These partnerships facilitate seamless ticketing, baggage transfers, and mileage earning/redemption opportunities on select routes. Given its small aircraft and short flight durations, Cape Air focuses on essential commuter service, offering a single economy-class layout without in-flight entertainment, Wi-Fi, food, or beverage services. A notable service is the potential for passengers to sit in the co-pilot seat and enjoy panoramic views.