Lakshadweep seaplane launch in limbo after last-minute Skyhop permission withdrawal

New Delhi: India's ambitious plan to connect its remote islands through seaplane services has hit a hurdle after the Lakshadweep administration withdrew permission for operations at the last moment, throwing the plans of seaplane operator Skyhop into jeopardy, according to documents reviewed by ET.

The last-minute withdrawal has dealt a blow to what was seen as a strategic step towards providing air connectivity to one of India's most isolated island territories. The incident also underscored the persistent challenges new operators face when attempting to launch services on remote and underserved routes.

Skyhop, which had been working to launch seaplane services connecting the Lakshadweep islands, had received initial approvals before the administration reversed its position, the documents showed. The operator had made significant preparatory investments ahead of the planned launch, including leasing planes, hiring crew and conducting multiple trials.


People aware of the developments said that while the administration had initially given permission and made all preparations, including setting up waterdromes, a communication from the island's administrator last week said it had no infrastructure to handle seaplanes.

Giri Shankar, director, port, shipping and aviation for the Lakshadweep administration, did not respond to queries on the reason for the withdrawal.

“Skyhop had leased planes and conducted trials while paying lease rentals without any revenue service,” said one of the persons cited above. “This denial of permission has made it really difficult to sustain operations.”

Skyhop did not respond to queries. The Ministry of Civil Aviation also did not respond.

Seaplane services have long been seen as the most practical solution for connecting India's island territories, which lack the land infrastructure needed for conventional airports. Unlike fixed-wing aircraft, seaplanes can operate from water bodies, eliminating the need for runways and making them uniquely suited for island and coastal connectivity.

The Centre had identified seaplane connectivity as a key pillar of its regional aviation push under the UDAN scheme, which caps fares and offers subsidies to attract operators to thin and remote routes. However, the sector has struggled to gain traction, with multiple operators facing regulatory, infrastructural and commercial hurdles since the scheme's launch in 2017.

SpiceJet had previously attempted seaplane operations in Gujarat under a tie-up with Maldivian operator Trans Maldivian Airways but stopped the service after a brief run. The failure of that venture underscored the difficulty of making seaplane economics work in the Indian context, where water aerodrome infrastructure remains largely undeveloped.

“The challenge with remote routes is not just the aircraft or the route — it is the entire ecosystem of permissions, water aerodromes, fuel supply and ground handling that needs to come together,” said a senior aviation industry official. “A single link in that chain breaking can unravel an entire plan.”