European Coastal Airlines
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European Coastal Airlines
Earlier this year at Split airport, I saw an advert on a TV screen for a new carrier - European Coastal Airlines. Their apparent aim is to offer flights from Split airport or Split harbour to the various islands along the Croatian coast close to Split. Thus, if you were a tourist from northern Europe spending a week on some island in the Adriatic, one might change aircraft at Split airport, instead of taking a ferry from the harbour in the city centre.
The idea seems interesting, although I can't decide whether it's a sufficiently big niche to make a viable business. The fact that the airline claims flights will operate in summer 2014 yet they are not taking bookings on the web makes me think they are unlikely to make much revenue over the peak summer months of 2014.
Does anyone know much about them ? Knowing means more than "I entered the name into Google and this is what I got..."
If you do have knowledge, anyone care to venture an opinion as to whether this airline will actually ever carry scheduled passengers for monetary reward ?
The idea seems interesting, although I can't decide whether it's a sufficiently big niche to make a viable business. The fact that the airline claims flights will operate in summer 2014 yet they are not taking bookings on the web makes me think they are unlikely to make much revenue over the peak summer months of 2014.
Does anyone know much about them ? Knowing means more than "I entered the name into Google and this is what I got..."
If you do have knowledge, anyone care to venture an opinion as to whether this airline will actually ever carry scheduled passengers for monetary reward ?
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Found a website for them - looks like they will be operating a fleet of Twin Otter & a Grumman Goose! Good luck to them, it may well just cater for the leisure passengers, but you never know, if they get their pricing right it may get business passengers to fly with them.
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The first twin otter has just been completed by RUAG Belp, following upgrade to EASA standards, and a full glass avionics fit, aircraft is waiting on a inspection and issue of paperwork by the Croatian CAA, before delivery to the airline .
Second aircraft is being inspected by RUAG next week in Australia, prior to purchase.
Start date for ops is 1st August.
Second aircraft is being inspected by RUAG next week in Australia, prior to purchase.
Start date for ops is 1st August.
Well I just stepped off a Cessna Caravan floatplane in Vancouver and will in a few days be using a Harbour Air Otter to go'home'. It works over here and the operations in general are so slick, I firmly believe in it for parts of Europe too.
There is always a need for niche airlines, where many go wrong is trying to grow beyond exactly that, bigger isn't necessarily more profitable!
Good luck to them!
There is always a need for niche airlines, where many go wrong is trying to grow beyond exactly that, bigger isn't necessarily more profitable!
Good luck to them!
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Well I just stepped off a Cessna Caravan floatplane in Vancouver and will in a few days be using a Harbour Air Otter to go'home'. It works over here and the operations in general are so slick
I flew with Harbour Air last year, in a DHC-3 Turbine Single Otter and DCH-6 Twin Otter, and was very impressed by their operations. They have a fleet of about 34 aircraft and, I believe, are the largest all-seaplane company in the world.
I preferred the Single Otter, but only because it's single crew and I was lucky to get the right seat.
Vancouver Harbour Seaplane Terminal
FL
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ECA
The idea ware in many pilots minds, but before 2014 there was a lot of administrative and birocratical barriers, but I'm very happy for them, it looks professional project and for sure during summer time aircrafts gonna be full.
Its like theirs CEO said: Dreams got true.
Me and my family will be there customer as soon we get back to EU.
Fantastic adventure, amazing value comparing with travel time with ferry.
I just hope they would not be like Dalmatian or Air Croatia story.
All best.
Its like theirs CEO said: Dreams got true.
Me and my family will be there customer as soon we get back to EU.
Fantastic adventure, amazing value comparing with travel time with ferry.
I just hope they would not be like Dalmatian or Air Croatia story.
All best.
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The caravan is a great aircraft to fly on,much quieter and faster than the otter and big windows make the view spectacular.Used it a couple of times last few weeks (Seair). Very excited for the guys in Croatia and wish then every success.
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Bit of a thread resurrection, but here goes:
With Croatia now being a full member of EU and EASA, how does the flight crew licensing work? Presumably, even if their airplanes are N-reg, they still need their pilots to hold EASA MEP(sea) and type rating (do you need a TR for the Goose?).
I can't find a single school in Europe that does MEP(sea). Can someone please explain?
With Croatia now being a full member of EU and EASA, how does the flight crew licensing work? Presumably, even if their airplanes are N-reg, they still need their pilots to hold EASA MEP(sea) and type rating (do you need a TR for the Goose?).
I can't find a single school in Europe that does MEP(sea). Can someone please explain?
Thread Starter
Earlier in June, I flew as a passenger between Split seaport and Jelsa with European Coastal Airlines in a Dash 6 seaplane.
With the hot sun shining under bright blue skies, the whole experience was fantastically good fun with an unbelievably high level of customer service for what is (I think) a rather cheap price.
I spoke to someone familiar with their operation on a daily basis - he mentioned that in April / May there have been times when a 19 (or 17, depending how you count) aircraft is carrying only one or two passengers. Even in June, load factor for my flight (admittedly mid-week) was below 50%
Does anyone understand how this company is or intends to eventually become profitable ? Is there a subsidy from the Govt of various Croatian islands ? Something else behind the whole story ?
With the hot sun shining under bright blue skies, the whole experience was fantastically good fun with an unbelievably high level of customer service for what is (I think) a rather cheap price.
I spoke to someone familiar with their operation on a daily basis - he mentioned that in April / May there have been times when a 19 (or 17, depending how you count) aircraft is carrying only one or two passengers. Even in June, load factor for my flight (admittedly mid-week) was below 50%
Does anyone understand how this company is or intends to eventually become profitable ? Is there a subsidy from the Govt of various Croatian islands ? Something else behind the whole story ?
Thread Starter
AOC has been suspended.
Is this just a matter of filling in a bit of missing paperwork followed by the AOC being reinstated in a few days, or is this pretty much game over ?
Is this just a matter of filling in a bit of missing paperwork followed by the AOC being reinstated in a few days, or is this pretty much game over ?
