India is set to launch seaplane operations in the country, with the assistance from the national airline of the Maldives, Maldivian.
Seaplane operations will officially be launched in India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 31. The first seaplane in India will take off with assistance from a team of pilots and crew of Maldivian. A chartered seaplane of Maldivian has departed to India to commence the operations.
Joint Secretary of the Indian Civil Aviation Ministry Usha Padhee revealed the aircraft will reach Ahmedabad on October 26, after transiting in Cochin and Goa. She acknowledged the assistance and support of the Maldivian government and the national airline, as well as the Indian High Commission in the Maldives in launching seaplane operations in India.
Seaplane operations in India are being launched by the airline SpiceJet. Aircrafts with a capacity of carrying 14 passengers will be used for the seaplane operations.
SpiceJet has scheduled 8 daily flights at the start of its seaplane operations. The flights will travel between Ahmedabad and Kevadia in the state of Gujarat. The price of the flight is USD 65 per passenger.
Maldives has the largest seaplane fleet in the region, with 3 companies operating seaplanes in the country. As such, Maldivian, Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) and Manta Air operate seaplanes in the Maldives.