In what appeared to be just a distant dream for India’s less-explored Andaman and Nicobar Islands, tourism is about to get a major boost with the launch of seaplane operations. The Andaman and Nicobar administration, in collaboration with the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and Airports Authority of India (AAI), is planning to introduce seaplane connectivity between Port Blair and other islands.

The proposed routes include seaplane services between Port Blair and Swaraj Dweep (formerly Havelock Island), Port Blair and Shaheed Dweep (formerly Neil Island), and Port Blair and Long Island in North and Middle Andaman, according to Vishwendra, Secretary of Civil Aviation, Andaman and Nicobar administration.De Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada is one of the major pillars behind this initiative.

The company has been conducting demo seaplane flights since November 9, 2024, starting from Andra Pradesh and concluding its last leg at Port Blair this Sunday. The last demo flight was carried out from Helipad to Havelock Island (now known as Swaraj Dweep) and return service, which landed at the Marina Water Sports Complex at Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair).

The Twin Otter, an ideally suitable aircraft for seaplane operations, was used in these flights due to its versatile nature of operating on both land and water. The seaplane can accommodate 16 passengers.The aircraft is engineered for short takeoff and landing on both land and water, needing approximately 700 m of runway.

The aircraft has two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-35 engines and can fly at a cruising speed of 150 knots.

Earlier, seaplanes were operational in the Andaman Islands. However, as of 2020, no seaplane is operational in Port Blair, Havelock, or Neil Island.

The most common mode of transport around the islands is helicopters, but then advance booking for the helicopter services is not available, leading to various tourism challenges in the region.

The launch of seaplane operations will help mitigate these and many other remote connectivity challenges in the region.