File photo: A sea plane landing at Mattuppetty reservoir near Munnar
| Photo Credit:
JOMON PAMPAVALLEY
The seaplane and small aircraft operator — SkyHop Aviation — intends to start commercial flight services soon. It has received the NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), industry sources told businessline.
SkyHop Aviation has already received security clearance required for the ministry’s NOC.
Sources said the company would now apply for an Air Operator Certificate/ Permit (AOC/AOP) from the regulator.
The venture is headed by SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh’s daughter, Avani Singh.
Avani previously led SpiceHealth and is now spearheading the SkyHop Aviation project following her MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Notably, this is a personal venture of Avani and is not related to SpiceJet.
Besides, the upcoming airline has partnered with De Havilland Canada for procuring seaplanes.
On its official page in social networking platforms for professionals, LinkedIn, SkyHop Aviation said only “170 out of 4,000 cities” in India are connected by air today.
“SkyHop Aviation’s seaplanes and small aircraft are quickly changing that! We’re transforming regional travel — navigating water, rough terrain, and remote destinations to connect an unconnected India,” the official page read.
The seaplane and small aircraft operator has also advertised to hire pilots for the ‘Twin Otter DHC-6-400’ series of aircraft.
SkyHop Aviation holds multiple key regional routes, including those in Andhra Pradesh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, the North-East, and other strategic locations.
Presently, there are no seaplane services in the country.
However, India has had such flight services, which gained notable attention when Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew on a seaplane between the Sabarmati riverfront and the Statue of Unity in Gujarat during 2019-20.
The service, operated by SpiceJet, was eventually discontinued for commercial reasons and the impact of Covid-19.
Globally, seaplanes are used for connecting islands and tourist destinations, such as the Maldives, which, as per estimates, has around 100 such aircraft.
At present, the Centre is encouraging players to enter into the segment. MoCA has eased restrictions on water aerodromes and seaplane pilot qualifications.
It is also trying to attract players via its regional connectivity UDAN scheme.
The UDAN 5.5 version of the schemes offers operators the chance to chart seaplane routes between 80 water bodies, which include waterdromes, ponds, and dams.
Until now, several state governments, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh, have expressed interest in enhancing air connectivity through seaplanes.
Currently, seaplanes are manufactured by global companies including De Havilland Canada, Cessna, and a few others.
Industry forecast the creation of over 50 seaplane routes and the development of around 20-25 aerodromes over the next five years.
The forecast anticipates a requirement of around 30 aircraft in the next five years.
Published on June 28, 2025