Seaborne seaplane

Seaborne Airlines has been flying since 1992 in the seaplane business, safely carrying over 1.7 million passengers.  The Seaborne seaplane operates between downtown Christiansted, St. Croix and downtown Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas with 35 daily flights.

 

• The only seaplane service in the U.S. Virgin Islands
• Convenient service with no airports
• Every flight has two engines and two pilots

seaplane safety

Seaborne Airlines operates under FAR Part 121 airline, the strictest code of Federal Regulations governing air travel, and the same one that covers all US Major Carriers.  Seaborne is the only FAR Part 121 airline based in the Caribbean.

The Power of Two:  Seaborne Airlines flights all have two pilots on board our safe twin-engine aircraft.  Seaborne’s fleet is supported by two maintenance facilities teams, based on St. Croix.  Seaborne Airlines has maintained an impeccable safety record.

seaplane comfort

Seaborne Seaplane interior

Seaborne seaplane flights are air-conditioned to provide a very comfortable travel experience for our customers.

In fact, the seaplane between St. Thomas and St. Croix epitomizes comfort with air travel.  The flight is only 18 minutes long with the convenience of  downtown to downtown ports is unsurpassable all with incredible views! This is travel with maximum comfort and enjoyment.

 

seaplane fleet

There are two (2) DHC-6-300 Twin Otter aircraft with WipLine floats in the seaplane fleet with approximately 30 flights per day.  Seaborne is proud to operate this particular aircraft, a 19 passenger (our seaplanes are configured for 15 seats) Short Takeoff and Landing utility aircraft developed by deHavilland Canada.  This type of aircraft is designed to be a regional passenger airliner and Medevac aicraft.  The pontoons used for water based departures and landings have allowed a practical seaplane solution to thrive in destinations all over the world that benefit from convenient inter-island connections, just like the Caribbean.   Read more about the seaplane fleet.

seaplane challenges

Did you know that seaplanes cost more than twice as much to operate as land based aircraft?  Why? Because the salt and rough water take a significant daily toll on our aircraft! In order continue to fly SAFELY, which is our first priority, we must constantly overhaul aircraft and replace expensive parts.

Here are some numbers:

• Aircraft overhauls (done every three years) run upwards of $1,500,000.
• Parts, replaced multiple times daily, cost as much as $25,000!
• Engines replacements are over $300,000!
• Then there are the aircraft themselves, the Twin Otter – which now cost over $4,000,000 to put in service, twice the amount just three years ago!!!
• Land based aircraft, engines, and parts, by comparison, last 15 years longer!!!
• Now add the fact that the price of fuel has tripled over the past three years!

seaplane destinations

The Seaborne seaplane flies to St. Croix and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Location details are on each destination page.  The Seaborne seaplane is available for private sunset tour flights.