Sydney Seaplanes (Sydney Rose Bay) owner Aaron Shaw has registered a new company in New Zealand, Queenstown Seaplanes. According to the Otago Daily Times, the start-up plans to launch seaplane operations from Queenstown.

Shaw did not reveal any details just yet except for the fact that the start-up would use Cessna (single turboprop) 208 floats-equipped aircraft. Thanks to the turboprop engine, the type would be quiet enough not to provoke protests from the residents and vacation-goers in the South Island resort town.

Queenstown is located on the shore of Lake Wakatipu and is one of the most popular high-end tourist destinations in New Zealand.

Despite the location on the lakeshore, the city does not currently see any seaplane operations. A rival Queenstown Floatplane Services (Queenstown) recently applied for a permit to serve the city but due to noise concerns will most likely only be allowed to operate directly to the Queenstown Bay.

In terms of large-scale commercial services, Queenstown currently sees both domestic and international flights operated by each of Air New Zealand, Qantas, Virgin Australia International, and Jetstar Airways. According to the ch-aviation capacity module, the airport serves a total of 182 weekly departures.

Additionally, Aaron Shaw also said that Sydney Seaplanes had now been granted a five-year extension of its Air Operator's Certificate in Australia. This has exonerated the company after a fatal crash of one of its seaplanes in January 2018 in Sydney Harbour.