European Coastal Airlines (Split) will acquire an additional four DHC-6 seaplanes in 2015 and another four in 2016 should the airline's business expansion go as planned. Speaking to the Digital Journal, airline CEO Klaus Dieter Martin said that since the carrier's launch in late August, it had seen strong demand with load factors averaging "about 60%." However, growth would depend on the Croatian authorities granting the carrier rights to more destinations.
"As people know, we have invested heavily so far, some EUR15million (USD18.9million), and we have EUR20million (USD25.25million) earmarked for 2015 and another EUR20million for 2016, but this investment is dependent on concessions for destinations from the Croatian authorities," he said.
ECA is backed by Agathis 5 Ltd, an investment vehicle representing a group of private investors from Malaysia and Germany.
Currently, ECA operates a pair of Twin Otter Seaplanes on flights connecting Hvar, Jelsa, Rab, Split, and Zagreb Franjo Tuđman. Once issues concerning Schengen passport control are resolved, ECA plans to commence trans-Adriatic flights to Ancona, Italy.
