HYDROPLANES IN CROATIA - FROM SPLIT TO HVAR IN ONLY 13 MINUTES
Official website
Official website
Mark the date! European Coastal Airlines modern hydroplane has started with its first flight today on the 27th of August 2014.
After 13 years of exhausting paperwork, a true revolution in aviation to the most remote places in Croatia has become possible by Europe's only scheduled hydroplane service. This form of transportation will not only reduce travel times and increase service levels but as well enable flying to destinations no airline has ever reached, allowing its clients to concentrate on enjoying their holiday or focus on their business.
This also represents great news for Hvar its major hotel companies and all of the tourists who were not so keen to spend approximately an hour and a half on a ferry to reach the famous island after multiple stop flights.
A real revolution since for the majority of world travelers it is awkward that such a cosmopolitan destination does not own an airport of its own as it is the case in other countries for such a high profile spot.
As well if we take in consideration the abrupt stop of operation of catamaran Krilo by the Croatian authorities; which was the fastest medium by which guests reached the island; this fact highlights how essential it is for the island tourism to sustain more and more private transportation companies which are more driven by customers needs than the transport companies owned by the state.
At ECA they believe that the ability of hydroplanes to land on sea and land will provide the ultimate flexibility for Croatian transport. Currently the company managed to retain only the license to operate flights from Jelsa (Hvar Island) to Split Airport and four roundtrip flights of duration of 13 minutes are scheduled per day. In the future they are planning to open additional flights to Hvar City, Vis, Lastovo Korčula, Split downtown, Rab, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Pula and Ancona.
The tickets can already be booked online at the ECA reservation system; a one-way ticket from Jelsa to Split will cost you 41.59 Eur. Passengers will undoubtedly enjoy the breathtaking views as the hydroplanes fly at an maximum altitude of 2500m as well as the boarding time which instead of two hours prior departure is of 30 minutes before landing and you do not have to pass all of the exaggerated boarding controls. Each passenger can take 15kg of luggage and a small hand luggage is permitted without any surcharge.
You are still not convinced? The best news is still to arrive: Both frequent flyers and islanders will have discounts in place.
So hurry up and reserve your 13 minutes flight from Split to Jelsa available this year till the 15th of September.