Seaplane Service - A New Experience For Kerala Tourism

Capt Michael Fabry, a Belgium National who piloted the aircraft, during reception ceremony for the Kerala's first sea plane at Nedumbasery International Airport in Kochi on Thursday.  The Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala will starts its seaplane service this month, with the inauguration to be held at Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam on June 2. The initial operations will be in a prioritized circuit consisting of Ashtamudi, Punnamada, Kumarakom, Munnar, Bolgatty and Bekal, with Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Calicut and Mangalore airports as base stations.

Houseboats will serve as terminals at the landing and takeoff sites with lounges for tourists. Seaplane operations will be limited to daytime. The project aims to connect 25 tourist destinations. The seaplane project is related to various ideas of the Emerging Kerala.It offers tremendous potential to boost in Kerala tourism. The service will provide a unique experience to travelers, both as a joy ride and as an effective mode of air transport to distant destinations.

Bengaluru­based Kairali Aviation Pvt Ltd will operate the seaplane service. Four other tour operators, including Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited (PHHL), have registered with the state government to start seaplane operations.

Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Ltd. (KTIL) was assigned to co­ordinate the project and was appointed as the nodal agency. The state government has provided the necessary infrastructure by setting up facilities like a floating jetty, passenger frisking, etc., to operate seaplane services, based on an open sky policy. The Security of the water-dromes is ensured by a specially ­formed Airport Security Group (ASG), trained and certified by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) of India, under the Kerala Police.

The main attraction of seaplane services will help the tourists to save the travel time. This will be a new experience for tourists.

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