Airlines Air Archipels signs contract for two King Air 260s

Medical service company Air Archipels has signed a contract with Textron Aviation for one Beechcraft King Air 260 and one cargo door equipped King Air 260C aircraft. The manufacturer released, that the aircraft are expected to be delivered in the second half of 2021.

Both the Beechcraft King Air 260 and 260C aircraft are being designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation in the United States. Air Archipels is operating in French Polynesia. The 260 with the cargo door installed will be the first aircraft to enter service with the operator.

Bob Gibbs, vice president, Special Mission Sales for Textron Aviation, said: "We’re honored that Air Archipels has chosen to continue to stay with the King Airs in support of its critical emergency service operational needs in French Polynesia [...] The King Air is the world leader in turboprop special missions because of the aircraft’s unmatched capabilities and reliability. Continuing to be the supplier of choice for emergency services in French Polynesia is a testament to the King Air’s performance when each minute matters.”

Manate Vivish, CEO for Air Tahiti, the parent company of Air Archipels, added: “Air Archipels operations require a difficult to achieve compromise between high speed and accessibility on short runways. We are glad that the King Air 260 delivers these unique capabilities. By investing in a renewed fleet Air Archipels chooses to offer the highest standard of reactivity, safety, and comfort in their operations”.

Currently, Air Archipels is operating with a fleet of Beechcraft Super King Air B200s on French Polynesia, a small overseas collectivity of the French Republic. Next to the B200s, the operator is also performing flights with DHC6-300 Twin Otter.

Most of the time, Air Archipels is performing medical emergency evacuation operations. Per year, the carrier carries out 3,000 hours of flight and the new King Air 260C will be configured for the air ambulance mission incorporating a LifePort medical interior, the manufacturer explained.