Hong Kong's Waterfront Air aims to start seaplane operations from a site at Victoria Harbour adjacent to the old airport at Kai Tai from the end of 2010.
The company hopes to build a new Kai Tai waterfront aerodrome in Hong Kong and start with services to Macau using leased de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otters. It plans to extend the services to Guangzhou and Shenzhen eventually, adds Waterfront Air's founder and director Michael Agopsowicz.
He adds that it is seeking permission from the authorities to construct licensed water aerodromes in all of the cities. He says that it will fund the entire project privately.
"Since we started on the project two years ago, we have been getting a better idea of the rules and regulations governing the operations of seaplanes. We have done a feasibility study and submitted an application to the authorities. There has been tremendous support from everyone. We plan to begin an environmental impact assessment and formal application process shortly," says Agopsowicz
While there are extensive ferry and helicopter links between Hong Kong and Macau, he says that seaplanes tap into a different target market. "We eye the international travellers who want to add value to their trip, the affluent market," he adds.
Seaplanes were last used in Hong Kong in the 1960s after Cathay Pacific bought the Macau Aerial Transport Company. These were deployed for about 40 years on regular scheduled services to destinations like Macau and Guangzhou.
"The flight will take about 20 minutes and the view will be amazing. We are confident that it will prove to be a success," says Agopsowciz.
Source: Flight Daily News