Sri Vijaya Puram, June 18 — Seaplane services are poised to make a comeback in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with scheduled operations set to resume after a years-long hiatus. In an exclusive conversation with The Wave Andaman, Jyoti Kumari, IAS, Secretary of Information, Publicity and Tourism, confirmed that the revival—spearheaded by regional airline Flybig with support from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation—will enable faster, more direct access to remote destinations such as Car Nicobar and Campbell Bay by the end of 2025.
Originally launched in 2011 with Pawan Hans-operated Cessna 208A aircraft connecting Sri Vijaya Puram and Havelock, the earlier version of the service was discontinued in 2020 due to operational hurdles. The current initiative, revived under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) regional connectivity scheme and guided by new norms introduced in August 2024, is now in its final planning phase.
Flybig Chairman and Managing Director Saanjay Mandavia recently confirmed that the airline has reached an agreement with AAI and the central government to commence the country’s first scheduled seaplane routes to and from Car Nicobar and Campbell Bay. The airline’s fleet will include the De Havilland Twin Otter aircraft—amphibious planes capable of operating on both water and land.
The first aircraft is expected to arrive by October, with operations likely to begin by late 2025 or early 2026, pending final clearances.
In tandem, infrastructure upgrades are underway. New terminal buildings at Shibpur (North Andaman) and Car Nicobar were completed as of April 1, 2024. Fixed-wing air services using 19-seater aircraft are scheduled to begin on the Sri Vijaya Puram–Shibpur and Sri Vijaya Puram–Car Nicobar sectors by July, operated by a private airline selected by the local administration under the UDAN scheme.
At the 29th Foundation Day celebrations of the Airports Authority of India in Sri Vijaya Puram, Airport Director Devender Yadav emphasized the long-term significance of these connectivity upgrades. He also announced the rollout of an in-line baggage handling system at Veer Savarkar International Airport to improve passenger experience.
Yadav cited data from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) showing that every ₹100 spent on aviation yields ₹325 in economic output and that every 100 aviation jobs support an additional 610 jobs in the broader economy—highlighting the potential multiplier effect of enhanced connectivity in the islands.
The development is expected to galvanize the tourism sector in the Islands. A seaplane ride from Sri Vijaya Puram to Havelock, for example, takes just 25 minutes and offers stunning aerial views of iconic locations like Ross Island, North Bay, and Mount Harriet. Beyond tourism, the aircraft will also be used for emergency medical evacuations and supply delivery to isolated communities.
Fare details for the new routes have not yet been disclosed. In earlier operations, residents paid ₹600 for a one-way trip between Sri Vijaya Puram and Havelock, while tourists were charged ₹4,100. Industry observers expect a similar dual-pricing model to return.
While airlines such as SpiceJet, Mehair, and Heritage Aviation have expressed interest in the seaplane segment, Flybig is currently the only operator with a confirmed deployment timeline and aircraft acquisition underway.
With regulatory groundwork nearly complete and infrastructure falling into place, the relaunch of seaplane services marks a pivotal moment for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands—bringing isolated communities closer, shrinking travel times, and unlocking new avenues for tourism and regional economic development.
