Beechcraft King Air C90GTx

Yes. Short-field performance is one of its strengths, with a take-off distance of 605 m, so it can use regional airports that many jets cannot. At Gstaad-Saanen the 1,400 m runway is more than enough, although altitude and mountain terrain affect performance and crews take both into account. That makes it a practical way to land close to alpine resorts and other remote destinations.

The F90 arrived in the late 1970s as a crossover, combining the C90's fuselage with the B200's wings and T-tail. It was a clever design for its time, but today its avionics look old and its performance is less efficient. The C90GTx, launched in 2010, has PT6A-135A engines, composite winglets, Pro Line Fusion avionics and a quieter cabin, and it climbs better, uses less fuel and is more comfortable for passengers.

It is mostly used for regional flights where reaching a smaller airport matters. In Europe it links cities such as Munich, Milan or Geneva with nearby alpine airfields like Sion and Saanen. In the United States it flies regional routes such as Houston to Dallas or Nashville to Chicago, often into secondary airports that jets cannot use.

With IFR reserves it covers 903 nm (1,672 km), and the ferry range is 1,260 nm. Passenger load, baggage and weather all change the figure, but routes such as London to Ibiza or New York to Chicago are within reach without refuelling. That makes it best suited to short and medium sectors.