Tropicana | Saab 340B | VQ-ASV | 2006-present

Tropicana is the largest airline in the Turks and Caicos, and one of the biggest players in the intra-Caribbean aviation market. Based in Providenciales, it has an extensive route network that spans most major islands of the Caribbean, as well as a single route to the US, specifically to Key West. The airline was founded as a small domestic carrier operating DHC-3 seaplanes in 1994, however with the government purchasing a 49% stake in the carrier in 2003 it grew to a major airline for the region. Although government participation in the airline has reduced to a 36% stake, it plays a vital role for the island nation's tourism industry, one of its largest sources of income.

Today Tropicana operates a fleet of 19 planes, with the Saab 340 taking center stage. Tropicana owns a total of 12 of the type, with the rest of the fleet consisting of 5 Saab 2000s and 2 Viking Air Twin Otters. The DHC-6s are used almost exclusively on domestic trips, with the Saabs handling the carrier's vast international network. In recent years, Tropicana has been searching for a suitable replacement aircraft for its workhorse fleet, as even the youngest Saabs in the fleet are more than 20 years old. Although life extension programs and interior upgrades have helped modernize the fleet, some of these aircraft are nearing the end of their usable life. Although no suitable replacement has been found yet, newcomers such as the ATR 42-600S and potentially the Dornier 328eco could provide the solution.

VQ-ASV is one of 5 Saab 340B+ aircraft in the fleet. It was originally built in 1997, and ended up in the Tropicana fleet in 2018. In fact, this is the latest Saab 340 to join the fleet, and the second last aircraft overall, surpassed only by a Saab 2000 delivered in mid-2019. Although the airline was in the process of negotiating for additional aircraft to enter the fleet, the pandemic has thwarted these plans. Like all Saab 340s, this one is configured with 34 seats. It operates from the airline's secondary base in Santo Domingo, frequently operating flights to neighboring Port-au-Prince, Kingston, Saint Maarten, as well as Providenciales.