India’s biggest regional airline Spicejet has obtained approval for 18 seaplane routes within India. One of these routes is to Kevadia, the site of the world’s tallest statue – a 182-meter tribute to the country’s first home minister, Vallabhbhai Patel.
During the pandemic, SpiceJet is focusing on new sources of revenue, including transporting cargo and regional flights using smaller planes.
SpiceJet chairman Ajay Singh said the seaplanes would help improve regional connectivity – an initiative being encouraged by the Indian government – “without the high cost of building airports and runways”, thanks to the planes being able to take-off and land both on small water bodies and short airstrips.