FLEET / ROUTES - Siam Seaplane eyes early 1Q27 launch

 
Siam Seaplane (Bangkok Don Mueang) expects to begin commercial water-based seaplane services in Thailand in January 2027, after lengthy regulatory and environmental approval delays, the Bangkok Post has reported.

Although the operator has been certified since 2024, it has so far only operated land-based charter flights while approvals for water take-offs and landings remain pending. Siam Seaplane expects the approval process to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Chief executive Worakanya Siripidej said temporary water landing sites or floating docks require an initial environmental examination under a 2023 Natural Resources and Environment Ministry notification.

Siam Seaplane currently operates a single Cessna (single turboprop) 208B Grand Caravan EX, HS-SSP (msn 5076). The company has ordered six additional C208Bs in 2026, which will expand its fleet to seven aircraft, and targets up to 15 aircraft within five years.

The operator plans three temporary water take-off and landing sites in Tub Kaek and Koh Phi Phi, as well as facilities at Bangtao and Makham Bay in Phuket, and Koh Yao Noi in Phangnga.

Siam Seaplane has expanded its operational office at Bangkok Don Mueang and plans to establish a hub at Krabi later in 2026 to support the roll-out of its Andaman region seaplane network.

CH Aviation

NEW AIRLINE - Fly Girma (South Sudan) plans to launch domestic operations from Juba in 2H 2026 with ATR72-600, EMB120 and Cessna 208B Grand Caravan.

Fly Girma (South Sudan) plans to launch domestic operations from Juba in 2H 2026 with ATR72-600, EMB120 and Cessna 208B Grand Caravan. The carrier is in talks with KCB Bank Group (Kenya) for aircraft financing.
 

FLEET - Mission Aviation Fellowship - MAF / Cessna 208B Grand Caravan / 5Y-BRE

Photo: Konstantin von Wedelstaedt
 

Mokulele Airlines - Cessna 208B Grand Caravan - N862MA

Duncan Stewart - LAX

Mokulele Airlines - Cessna 208B Grand Caravan - N839MA

Duncan Stewart - LAX

Canadian firm seeks partner for Indonesian seaplane venture

Indonesian start-up BlueWater Seaplane (Denpasar) is planning to commence operations in the near future. Gilles Cardinal, head of the start-up's Canadian partner and existing seaplane base operator Cardinal Aviation, says the airline will focus on the tourist market in and around Bali and its numerous surrounding islands. It will also offer ad-hoc charters to remote outlying communities as well as medevac and sightseeing flights.

Operations will be onboard Cessna (single turboprop) Grand Caravan 208EX seaplanes.

According to Cardinal's investor prospectus, BlueWater will require a total initial investment of USD19 million including USD2 million for the establishment of the firm, USD10 million for aircraft, and USD7 million for infrastructural development.

ch-aviation

JoyAir orders twenty Cessna Grand Caravan Amphibians

Cessna Aircraft Company (Wichita Cessna Aircraft Field) has signed a firm order agreement with JoyAir (JR, Xi'an Xianyang) for twenty Cessna (single turboprop) Grand Caravan EX Amphibian aircraft. The order was first announced in November last year at the 10th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai.

 As such, the turboprops are expected to begin arriving later this year out of the company’s joint venture facility, Cessna-AVIC Aircraft (Shijiazhuang) Co., Ltd. 

 Joy Air, which already owns two Grand Caravan EX Amphibians, will use the additional aircraft for commuter flights between coastal areas including Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Yunnan province, and also for air tours and charter flights.

 Beijing recently lifted a ban on low-altitude commercial flights, making seaplane travel a viable method of transportation in many of China’s coastal and riparian cities.

 In June, Harbour Air Seaplanes (H3, Vancouver Coal Harbour) announced a strategic partnership with China’s Zongshen Industrial Group Co., Ltd. to export the Canadian operator's seaplane services to major cities throughout China.

 Other Chinese operators to order Amphibious aircraft include Meiya Air (Sanya) which plans to use its Cessna aircraft on sightseeing flights over Wuzhizhou Island near Sanya, and Reignwood Star Aviation which will use its fleet of sixty amphibians (ten Cessnas and fifty DHC-6-400s ordered from Viking Air (VKN, Victoria Int'l)) to expand its services and operate tourism flights in southeastern China. 

ch-aviation

Hai Au Aviation, launches seaplane flights (Vietnam)

Hai Au Aviation has commenced operations with scheduled seaplane flights between Hanoi and the  Ha Long Bay.
Operations are on-board two Cessna (single turboprop)s Grand Caravan 208B-EXs (cn 208B5121 and cn 208B5122), that arrived early last month.

FlyMe Maldives takes delivery of first Cessna Caravan Seaplane

FlyMetook delivery of its first Cessna Caravan Seaplane, N81523 (cn 20800550), at a ceremony in Malé on April 28.
Photo:Buzu - Malta Int'l - LMML

ST. BARTH COMMUTER - Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, F-OSBC

João Luis Pessoa - St Maarten

MN AVIATION - Cessna 208B Grand Caravan

José Ramon Valero - SJU

Vieques Air Link - Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, N741VL

José Ramon Valero  -SJU