The decks have been cleared for a seaplane service in Kerala. Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas will suspend the trial run of the service at a waterdrome set up at Bolgatty Palace, Kochi on November 11. Later in the day, the flight crew and passengers of the seaplane, ‘de Havilland Canada’, will be accorded a reception at Mattupetty Dam in Idukki district.

The seaplane service is meant to give a head start to the tourism sector in the state by improving connectivity. “de Havilland Canada” will land at Cochin International Airport at 2:00 PM on November 10 and fly to the waterdrome at Bolgatty Palace, where the crew will be hosted by the Department of Tourism.

The seaplane service under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Government of India, aims to increase the connectivity of airports and backwater areas in Kerala. Apart from Bolgatty and Mattupetty, the government plans to build hydrodromes at Kovalam, Ashtamudi, Punnamada, Kumarakom, Vembanad, Malampuzha and Bekal.

Growth in tourism

A press note quoting Mr. Riyas said that Kerala is giving top priority to improving connectivity as it plays a vital role in the growth of the tourism sector. “The launch of heli-tourism is a significant step in this direction, making our destinations more accessible for quick and seamless travel. Further, the expansion of roads connecting even the remotest parts of Kerala ensures that tourists can now easily reach remote locations, enjoying scenic drives along the way,” the minister noted.

“Our efforts also extend to the development of national highways as well as coastal and hill highways, which will further boost connectivity. Seaplane services will soon complement these efforts, positioning Kerala as a well-connected destination through a robust network of transport channels – including waterways, highways, helicopters and now, seaplanes. These initiatives underscore our commitment to make Kerala a tourism-friendly state with unparalleled connectivity,” he added.

Previous executions

The Swiss-based private company and SpiceJet are the service operators of ‘de Havilland Canada’, which is landing in Kerala after trial services in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Before the launch, a high-level inspection took place under the supervision of officials of the Cochin Port Trust, the Indian Navy and the seaplane. A feasibility study and hydrographic study were also completed prior to launch.

Tourism Secretary K Biju said the seaplane service will facilitate tourists to visit more destinations within a short span of time. He added that it can be popularized through campaigns abroad.

A seaplane is a motorized fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Passengers can board the seaplane from waterdroms. There are 9, 15, 20 and 30 seat seaplanes available for service.