China’s Zhoushan Avic Joy Air General Air Co. signed an agreement today to buy 20 Cessna Grand Caravan EX amphibians. The first of the turboprop singles is slated to be delivered to the operator later this year through the U.S. airframer’s Chinese joint venture, Cessna-Avic Aircraft (Shijiazhuang), which assembles Caravans for the Chinese market.

Shanghai-based Joy Air already owns two Grand Caravan EX amphibs and will use the new aircraft to operate more commuter flights between coastal regions such as Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Yunnan. They also will be used for air tours and charter flights.

The Grand Caravan EX is equipped with Wipaire Wipline 8750 floats. Powered by the 867-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140, the aircraft can fly more than 800 nm at more than 160 knots. It can carry up to nine passengers and two pilots.

“The availability of the Cessna Grand Caravan EX amphibian in China has sparked a new segment in the aviation market as operators now have the ideal product to meet the increasing demand for aerial sightseeing and charter tourist flights,” said Cessna’s sales vice president in China, Kevin Wu.