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New seaplane routes to revolutionise regional connectivity, connecting remote and iconic destinations across India.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu (left) with SpiceJet CMD Ajay Singh (centre) and Spice Shuttle CEO Avani Singh.
SpiceJet on Saturday said it plans to launch seaplane operations in 2025, across 20 routes, including Lakshadweep, Hyderabad, Guwahati, and Shillong. The airline has partnered in seaplane trials across multiple locations, providing crucial engineering, technical, and logistical support to De Havilland.
The announcement was made on Saturday by SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh on the occasion of a demonstration of seaplane flight from Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada to Srisailam Dam, attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu.
“SpiceJet has partnered in seaplane trials across multiple locations, providing crucial engineering, technical, and logistical support to De Havilland,” it said in a statement.
With rights to operate seaplane services on 20 routes, including Lakshadweep, Hyderabad, Guwahati, and Shillong, the airline is preparing to roll out connectivity across key routes as the infrastructure becomes ready, it added.
Ajay Singh, chairman and managing director of SpiceJet, said, “Seaplanes have the potential to transform India’s regional connectivity, opening up access to some of the most stunning, yet remote, parts of the country. SpiceJet has always dared to dream big and with the support of visionary leaders like Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister K Rammohan Naidu, we are taking concrete steps to bring seaplane operations to life in India once again.”
SpiceJet is excited to help drive this initiative forward, partnering closely with the government and civil aviation authorities to ensure these services become a reality and a success, Singh added.
Avani Singh, CEO of Spice Shuttle, said, “Our journey in regional connectivity has been a purposeful one, rooted in the belief that everyone, no matter how remote, deserves access to affordable and efficient air travel, and today, we are excited to be at the forefront of seaplane operations in India.”
Seaplanes can be a true game-changer for a country like ours, where diverse geographies—coastlines, islands, and riverine regions—often present infrastructure challenges. With seaplanes, we can transcend these barriers and bring the joy and benefits of connectivity to coastal areas, islands, and remote inland destinations, she said.
Avani, who previously led SpiceHealth, is now spearheading SpiceJet’s seaplane project following her MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She is also an alumna of Stanford University.
SpiceJet pioneered India’s first scheduled seaplane service in October 2020, linking the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad to the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat. Although paused due to COVID-19, the airline is once again ready to spearhead this ambitious project, echoing its commitment to inclusive growth under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme.
SpiceJet is India’s only major private airline consistently engaged with UDAN since its inception.
Shares of SpiceJet on Friday fell 2.52 per cent to close at Rs 59.69 apiece on the BSE.
