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| European Coastal Airline takes off with flights from Split |
Europe’s first modern scheduled and commercial seaplane service, Croatian-based European Coastal Airlines (ECA), has launched flights after receiving permits from aviation authorities. The official launch of the airline brings to an end a thirteen year old battle with bureaucracy and red tape. ECA inaugurated flights from Split Airport to the island of Jelsa yesterday. The service, which lasts only thirteen minutes, will significantly cut down on the existing two hour ferry ride. The four daily flights will operate with a Dash DHC-6-300 Twin Otter aircraft, which can land on both water and paved runways. In the coming days, flights from Pula, the island of Rab, as well as Zadar and Zagreb airports will be added to the network. Promotional tickets for the abovementioned routes are on sale and can be purchase through the airline’s website
Speaking to local media yesterday, ECA CEO, Captain Klaus Dieter Martin said, “This is a proud day for my entire team who have been working hard to accomplish what has been a long run to overcome bureaucracy - a marathon”. He added, “I am also very proud. We are looking forward to increase connectivity to the islands for tourists and Croatian citizens alike. This will really revitalise the islands and extend the season. If you can imagine, seventy years ago there were better connections to the islands with hydroplanes. This must change, and we are happy to play our part to make that change".
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| Inside ECA aircraft |
The DHC-6 has the capacity to seat nineteen passengers. ECA also plans to launch international flights from Jelsa to Ancona in Italy. “Initially we will connect Split Airport with Jelsa at least four times daily. Jelsa will be connected directly with Ancona twice daily. The northern network will connect Zadar (initially Zadar Airport), Rab, Pula, Zagreb Airport and Ancona. As soon as possible we will add further destinations”, Mr. Martin said. ECA is expected to revolutionise coastal travel in Croatia.
So cool! Congratulations. Wish them all the best
ReplyDeleteIsn't it a bid late now? It's already the end of August. Until when will these flights operate?
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Hope to see the planes also in Portoroz :)
ReplyDeleteGreat news, especially for people who live on islands, not to mention tourists! Wish them all the best!
ReplyDeleteJust a little correction. Jelsa is not an island but a town on the island of Hvar.
ReplyDeletegreat news nice to see something different
ReplyDeleteFlying for 13€ to Hvar is really cheap. That is worh each single penny
ReplyDeleteOT
ReplyDeleteBanja Luka Airport handled 3.457 passengers in July, increase of 310%! I think so far they handled around 18.000 passengers.
From islands to Zadar, or to Split, or to Dubrovnik, or to Pula, or to Rijeka, or to Ancona have all the sense, even from islands to Zagreb or between islands there is lot of sense, but from Zadar or Pula to Zagreb with DHC-6 is one of most stupid idea I ever read.
ReplyDeleteMislim da ni ne planiraju letjeti iz Pule i Zadra za Zagreb već sa otoka za Zagreb.
DeleteThis specific Twin Otter, model DHC-6, is one of most common airplanes connecting major airports and gas & oil fields all over the world. For example, Hassi Messaoud in Algeria is connected with at least ten different gas & oil fields / plants. Distances are in between 150 and 300 km. Basically, flights up to one hour duration. Similar cases or use of this particular aircraft you could find all over the world (Houston to Lake Jackson 55 miles only). Why use of this plane in Croatia would be so different that gentleman above things "most stupid idea I ever heard"?
DeleteCheers
Missed to mention above!
DeletePlane is very noisy and normally all pax are provided with ear protectors which I cannot see on the photo provided with this article.
I know everything about DHC-6. This stol airplane is ideal for short runway, for sea, for islands, short subsidized routes, but to fly commercial 300 km route with 19-seater is a dead wish today. On commercial routes you must have at least 70-seater, even 50-seater today is not payable plane. With 90% LF in 50-seater you are not in break-even. So, to be competition on ZAD-ZAG or PUY-ZAG to CTN Q400 you have to be totally mad!
DeleteOnly good idea would be if they can make deal with CTN to fly for them ZAD-ZAG and PUY-ZAG (without stop) routes, to take part of subsidies for those routes that Croatian Government is giving, and to make this route break-even with those subvention. CTN Q400 is too big for that route, mostly with 30% LF, one stop from PUY to ZAG via ZAD is demotivation for passengers, and one flight per day on winter is not enough for all waves CTN have (and passenger for sure will not wait in ZAG for some 7-8 hours for connection). 19-seater with no stop, with State subvention, to fly for CTN with all connections via ZAG is good idea. But to be competition to subsidized CTN with Q400 and connections via ZAG with 19-seatter and not subventions, no connections is suicide.
Gdje pise da ce letjeti pu zg? O cemu mi?
DeleteMozda najava nije dobro srocena, ali najavili su letove iz Splita do otoka, te iz Pule i Zadra do otoka i Zagreba.
DeleteA jel bi mogao da slece na jezera ? Dao bih 13 eura za bocacko jezero bologna. Npr.
ReplyDeleteBez milion ne stajemo. ;)
Avgust je bio i jaci.
To je trebao odavno CTN da uradi ali kad CEO nije nor....
ReplyDeleteINN
mogu da lete i za Beograd, da slete na Adu ili na Dunav kod hotela Jugoslavija :-)
ReplyDeleteGermanwings Piloti sutra strajkuju.
ReplyDeleteKako sam razumeo od 6-12.
INN
OT: Izgled nove zračne luke Zagreb
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVdcNZZWErk
Lepa stanica u Africi za napajanje aviona. Ko jos leti 727 u Evropi?
ReplyDeletePa ima ih.
DeleteDLH i jos nekoliko Cargo Kompanija :))
DeleteINN
I can't believe they put up with Balkanian BS for THIRTEEN years!!!!
ReplyDelete