Airlines
Skyhop Plans Island Routes With Noemi's Electric Seaplane
Agreement between start-ups could lead to orders for up to 15 aircraft
Skyhop Aviation and Noemi Aerospace leaders
Skyhop founder and CEO Avani Singh (left) signed a memorandum of understanding with Noemi Aerospace CEO Eric Lithun.

Skyhop Aviation, an Indian start-up launching commercial seaplane operations, has agreed to add 15 of Noemi Aerospace's electric amphibious aircraft to its fleet. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding on August 25 under which Skyhop said it plans to take the first 10 of the 9-passenger aircraft in 2030.

The new operator’s initial business model is focused on scheduled services connecting five islands in the Lakshadweep archipelago off India’s southwest coast. In April, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued an air opertor certificate to Skyhop, which is headquartered near the capital Delhi, following test flights with its 19-seat De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter seaplane.