NEW AIRLINE - SkyHop Aviation (India) took delivery of one DHC6-400, registration VT-SHE, on lease.

SkyHop Aviation Private Limited is an emerging Indian startup aiming to revolutionize regional connectivity through seaplane services. Led by CEO Avani Singh, the company plans to launch services in early 2026, targeting routes from Kochi to Lakshadweep. They have leased a Twin Otter amphibian

Status: Active/Preparations for launch.

Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana, India.

Core Business: Seaplane operations, charter services, and medical transport.

Leadership: Founded and led by CEO Avani Singh.

Fleet: Inked a lease for a Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft.

Key Operations: Planning to connect Kochi with five Lakshadweep islands (Agatti, Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Kiltan, and Kadmat).

Regulatory Status: Received No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) in June 2025

FLEET - De Havilland Canada announces DHC-6-400 orders

On the second day of the 2024 Farnborough Air Show, De Havilland Canada focused on the DHC-6-400 Twin Otter. It announced orders for a total of two aircraft.

One of these new aircraft is sold to an undisclosed customer, while the other is ordered by Pegasus Air Services from Indonesia. This carrier is already flying with four Twin Otters.

Illustration by De Havilland Canada.

 

NEW AIRCRAFT - India's flybig signs for 2+10 DHC-6s

 flybig (FLG, Indore) has placed a firm order with De Havilland Aircraft of Canada (DHC, Toronto Downsview) for two DHC-6-400s and signed a Letter of Intent for another up to ten newly announced DHC-6-300-G aircraft during the ongoing 2023 Paris Air Show.

"Twin Otters are the perfect aircraft for India's UDAN regional airport development program, part of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) for improving underserviced air routes and connecting Tier 2 and Tier 3 communities. Our two -400 aircraft will help realise our Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to connect India's hinterland, and we are looking forward to working with De Havilland Aircraft of Canada on potential future acquisitions of the new Classic 300-Gs," Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Mandavia said. "With the addition of this new aircraft the DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 300-G, looking ahead we are excited to announce our plans for further expansion of our services now to North India by offering connectivity to Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab. Our plans include adding Dehra Dun, Pithorgarh, Pantnagar, Hindon, Ludhiana, and Bathinda to our network."

The Indian regional specialist will become the first operator of the DHC-6-400 in India. The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that its fleet currently comprises one ATR72-500 and two ATR72-600s. The carrier recently secured an undisclosed strategic investment from Florida-based Royal Bengal Holding Inc.

The only current operator of Twin Otters in India is Saarthi Airways (Delhi International), which operates a single -300 on behalf of the Geological Survey of India (Kolkata).

flybig signed a Letter of Intent for five firm DHC-6-400 orders and five options in 2022. The deal has not been finalised. flybig did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment if the new commitment would replace last year's LOI.

The DHC-6-300-G is a newly announced variant of the Twin Otter with updated avionics, redesigned cabin interior, increased payload and range, and other improvements.

Photo: Flybig

Flybig order DHC-6-400

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada has announced that Indian carrier flybig has selected the DHC-6-400 for its fleet and has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) for up to ten aircraft. Five will be firm orders, while the remaining five will be options. No details on a delivery timeline have been made public.

flybig, which launched operations in January 2021, will utilize the DHC-6-400s to connect remote locations in India by air. Currently, the airline operates a fleet of one ATR72-500 and one ATR72-600. A second -600 is due shortly.

Illustration by De Havilland

China's Reignwood Aviation orders fifty DHC-6-400s

Viking Air (VKN, Victoria Int'l) has signed a firm order agreement with China's Reignwood Aviation Group for fifty DHC-6-400s as part of a strategic cooperation agreement. The order comes after the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) type certified the Twin Otter for operations within China.

 As such, Reignwood Star Aviation will take delivery of its first two aircraft during the last quarter of this year with the rest to be phased in through 2020. The turboprops will be configured with a combination of regional commuter landplane and amphibious floats.

 As part of their agreement, Viking and Reignwood will decide on a suitable location for the development of a factory-endorsed completion and service center (FECSC). 

 The FECSC will see aircraft manufactured at Viking’s Canadian factories that are destined for the Chinese market, undergo customer completion and customization in-country. 

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