Thailand’s tourism industry has resumed full operations, attracting a diverse range of international visitors. A pre-pandemic established airline is preparing to launch this summer to improve the tourist experience. This airline is unique in that it will operate as a seaplane-based carrier.
In a conversation with Chief Business Officer, Dennis Keller, he gave us an insight into this venture. Despite the challenges faced in the regulatory and infrastructure domains, the company remains optimistic, with the delivery of its first aircraft already completed.
Siam Seaplane has formed partnerships with over 60 prestigious luxury hotels and resorts, including brands such as Intercontinental and Four Seasons.
These key alliances are crucial to the success of this distinctive service and have necessitated significant investments of time, money, and effort in establishing water landing sites and gaining the necessary approvals from multiple state departments and agencies. Despite these challenges, the company is actively working on establishing over 40 landing sites at present.
“Thailand is one of the top ten tourism destinations in the world with so much coastline, and we are offering a premium product that we think Thailand has missed.”
What type of aircraft are they, and when are they to be delivered?
The company has taken delivery of its first Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft and is now concluding its registration process. The launch of flights is imminent. In the coming months, the fleet will be further expanded with the addition of two more aircraft. The long-term plan is to operate a fleet of 15 aircraft in Thailand over the next five years.
So, what kind of operations do you start with now that the first plane is with you?
We start with ground-to-ground charter flights and scenic flights first. And, as water landing sites are put in place, a smooth transition into amphibious seaplane flying will kick off. We have the floats to our Caravan and can install them anytime; they are easily reconfigurable once we’re ready for regular seaplane ops.
What would be your primary base initially? Bangkok?
Siam Seaplane plans to establish two primary hubs, with the first located in Bangkok to serve the Gulf of Thailand, including destinations such as Koh Samui, with flight distances of up to approximately one-and-a-half hours.
The second hub, located in either Phuket or Krabi, will serve the Andaman Sea and southern Thailand. The company is also exploring the potential for additional hubs in the future.
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Article By AirwaysMag