The Saab 340 freighter serves Mexico’s regional cargo market where speed and pressurization matter more than volume, running time-sensitive loads on domestic sectors where a jet freighter would be oversized and a slower turboprop misses the schedule.
Saab built the 340 as a pressurized regional airliner and freighter conversions are common in commercial cargo service. Two General Electric CT7 turboprops, a cruise around 282 knots to 25,000 feet, and roughly 785 nautical miles of range in the cargo role. Every Saab 340 we arrange flies with an operator certificated under FAR Part 135, the FAA rules for on-demand, for-hire charter.
Performance and Cabin
- Category: Cargo Aircraft
- Manufacturer: Saab AB (freighter conversion by Field Aviation)
- Year introduced: 1987
- Seating: Crew only (cargo)
- Crew: 2
- Range: 785 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 282 knots
- Service ceiling: 25,000 feet
- Length: 64.8 feet
- Wingspan: 70.3 feet
- Height: 22.9 feet
- Baggage volume: 1,276 cubic feet
- Lavatory: Crew only
Why the Saab 340 Fits Mexico
Mexico domestic cargo sectors under 800 nautical miles are where the Saab 340 is most useful. Monterrey to Mexico City, Guadalajara to Cancun, or Toluca to Merida are sectors where this aircraft’s combination of speed and pressurization gives it an advantage over a slower, unpressurized light freighter.
The round-section airliner fuselage takes dense cargo efficiently. Medical shipments, aircraft parts, electronics components, and time-critical manufactured goods between Mexico’s industrial cities are the loads that fit. Bulky or pallet-heavy freight suits the ATR 72F better; dense, fast cargo suits the Saab.
At 785 nautical miles of range in the cargo role, the Saab 340 is a Mexico domestic and US border aircraft, not a transcontinental one. For anything longer, the conversation moves to a jet freighter.
Vetting Behind Every Trip
Every operator, aircraft, and crew goes through our internal due diligence before we present any options. Our internal standards meet or exceed what the FAA requires:
- FAR Part 135 charter operators for traditional private aircraft, or FAR Part 121 for airliner-size and group trips (or the foreign equivalent on international legs)
- Operator subscription to Wyvern and ARGUS reviewed where the operator participates; reports may be provided on request.
- Pilot experience and operator incident history reviewed before we recommend an aircraft.
- Fewer than 60 brokers worldwide hold Premium Wyvern Broker Member status, and Air Charter Advisors is one of them.
Charter Pricing Reference
Industry hourly rates for the Saab 340 run $2,000 to $3,000 per hour as of 7/2026. Actual quotes vary by operator, routing, positioning, and date.
The Saab 340 freighter quotes at the lower end of the turboprop freighter band alongside the EMB-120, and the right choice between them depends on whether the Mexico load is dense or bulky.
Other Cargo Aircrafts Available
- ATR 72F
- Antonov An-124 Ruslan
- Boeing 737-400 Freighter
- Boeing 737-800BCF
- Boeing 747-400F
- Boeing 747-8F
The full cargo aircrafts category page lists every cargo aircraft we arrange for Mexico departures.
Contact
For a quote on a Saab 340 charter in or out of Mexico, call +1 (888) 987-5387 or head to our contact page. For the vetting work behind every trip, see our safety page. To browse cross-category options for the same trip, visit the aircraft directory.
The hourly rates provided are estimates based on 2026 market data and are for informational purposes only. These figures are subject to change and do not constitute a final offer. Final pricing is dynamic and depends on real-time factors including, but not limited to, specific itinerary requirements, aircraft positioning (“ferry” fees), fuel price volatility, and current market availability. These estimates exclude all applicable taxes, de-icing, landing and handling fees, special event fees, international surcharges, overnight crew expenses, and premium catering. Please contact Air Charter Advisors directly for a firm, all-inclusive quote tailored to your specific travel needs.