India’s long-delayed seaplane ambitions are set for another attempt at take-off, with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation granting an air operator certificate to SkyHop Aviation, positioning it as the country’s first dedicated commercial seaplane operator.
The regulatory clearance marks a fresh institutional push to revive a segment that has struggled to sustain operations in the past, even as policymakers now tie it more closely to regional connectivity and tourism goals.
SkyHop plans to begin operations by linking islands in Lakshadweep with each other and the mainland, targeting routes that remain difficult to access through conventional aviation or surface transport.
Key operational details include:
The company’s approach reflects a shift from earlier experiments, which were limited in scale and often tied to specific tourism circuits.
The aircraft to be deployed is a De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, previously operated by Fly Big, and later converted into a seaplane.
According to official processes cited in original reporting by The Economic Times, the aircraft was modified in India by fitting floats, after which the DGCA issued a certificate of airworthiness and cleared its operating procedures.
This is the first instance of an aircraft being converted into a seaplane within India and subsequently cleared for operations, marking a technical milestone for the domestic aviation ecosystem.
The aircraft recently conducted test flights in Uttarakhand, operating to and from the Ganga Barrage in Haridwar earlier this month, validating operational readiness ahead of commercial launch.
India’s previous attempts at seaplane operations have delivered mixed results. Notably, SpiceJet had launched services in Gujarat, but these were discontinued after a short period.
The current effort differs in that it is backed by explicit policy support.
In the Union Budget, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed incentives to promote domestic manufacturing of seaplanes and announced a viability gap funding scheme to support operations.
Parallelly, the government has also revised the UDAN regional connectivity framework to incorporate seaplane routes, aligning the segment with broader last-mile connectivity goals.
Officials cited in The Economic Times noted that the aviation ministry had directed the DGCA to expedite certification processes for such aircraft modifications following the Budget announcements.
SkyHop’s founder and chief executive Avani Singh described the licence as a foundational step for the business.
“Receiving the AOC is an important milestone for us and gives us the foundation to move ahead with confidence,” Singh said, adding that the airline aims to provide a reliable mode of transport to regions that remain underserved.
She emphasised the intent to combine practicality with accessibility, positioning seaplanes as a tool for improving regional connectivity rather than a niche tourism offering alone.
While policy support has strengthened, structural constraints that affected earlier attempts have not fully disappeared.
These include:
Past services struggled to achieve scale and consistency, raising questions about long-term viability without sustained support.
The approval of SkyHop’s licence, combined with policy backing, signals a coordinated attempt to integrate seaplanes into India’s regional transport mix.
Whether this translates into a durable market will depend on route economics, infrastructure readiness, and sustained passenger demand.
With Lakshadweep as the starting point and further routes under evaluation, the coming months will test whether India’s latest seaplane push can move beyond pilot projects and evolve into a stable segment within the aviation sector.
Join the conversation
No comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts!
Sign In to Comment