SkyHop Aviation has received its air operator's certificate from India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to commence commercial seaplane flights. The start-up airline confirmed the certification in a social media statement and will now proceed with its launch plans.
According to a report by The Economic Times newspaper, the company will launch initial services with a 19-seat, floats-equipped DHC-6-400. ch-aviation data identifies the airframe as VT-SHE (msn 987), previously operated by now-defunct regional carrier flybig.
SkyHop Aviation completed test flights on April 6, 2026, which included water take-offs and landings at the Ganga Barrage in Rishikesh and Tehri Lake in Uttarakhand.
The operator will focus its first phase on the Lakshadweep archipelago off the southwestern coast of India. It intends to connect five islands with each other and with the mainland. To support these services, it has built seaplane docks at Agatti, Kiltan, and Kavaratti islands.
Alongside the island services, the airline holds operational rights for routes to Hyderabad International, Guwahati, and Shillong. The DGCA previously granted SkyHop Aviation a no objection certificate (NOC) in July 2025, after which the start-up leased a Twin Otter from Japanese lessor AER Leasing. Parent company SpiceJet previously operated a seaplane route in India until late 2020.
"Building SkyHop from the ground up has been a learning experience, and this certification gives us the foundation to move ahead with confidence," founder and chief executive Avani Singh said. She added the company aims to offer a safe and reliable way to connect regions with limited conventional airport infrastructure.
