In a significant boost to Kerala’s tourism, a long-anticipated seaplane touched down at Bolgatty Waterdrome on Sunday evening. The ‘De Havilland Canada’ aircraft, which had taken off from Vijayawada and refueled at Cochin International Airport, received a water salute upon arrival. On Monday, Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas inaugurated a trial seaplane service route between Bolgatty Palace and Mattupetty Dam, with Industries Minister P Rajeeve overseeing the ceremony.
This seaplane service is part of the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s (MoCA) Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN, designed to improve access across Kerala’s four airports and waterways at subsidized rates, as reported by PTI.
Operated by a Switzerland-based private company in collaboration with SpiceJet, the ‘De Havilland Canada’ aircraft had previously completed test runs in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Canadian pilots Daniel Montgomery and Rodger Brindger led the maiden flight to Kochi, accompanied by crew members Yogesh Garg, Sandeep Das, Sayyid Kamran Hussain, and Mohan Singh.
The seaplane fleet will include small planes with seating capacities of 9, 15, 17, 20, and 30. Passengers will board from floating waterdromes, allowing easy access and subsidized fares for wider affordability.
Tourism Secretary K Biju highlighted that the seaplane service “offers an excellent opportunity for stakeholders,” including new tourism packages covering various destinations and creating employment opportunities within the sector.
Additional waterdromes may be established across prominent water bodies in districts such as Kovalam, Ashtamudi, Punnamada, Kumarakom, Vembanad, Malampuzha, and Bekal.
Officials from the Cochin Port Trust, the Indian Navy, and ‘De Havilland Canada’ have conducted logistical assessments, feasibility studies, and hydrographic surveys to ensure smooth operations.
This project aims to limit travel times between destinations to under 30 minutes, significantly reducing commute times between Kerala’s four international airports and remote areas, as per a press release.
