# De Havilland Canada optimistic on India seaplane import move 2026-08-21T19:24:48+00:00 | Business & Economy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet De Havilland Canada has said India's decision to allow the import of seaplanes up to 20 years old is a 'pragmatic and enabling step' for the country's seaplane ecosystem. Yogesh Garg, Regional Vice President of Sales for Asia Pacific and Middle East at the Canadian manufacturer, said the regulatory shift will let operators induct capacity faster and at lower capital cost. Garg noted that older seaplanes require strict airworthiness oversight and corrosion management, especially in amphibious conditions. Several regional players have shown interest in operating seaplane services connecting the mainland to Lakshadweep, though no such service currently exists in India. Garg identified three enablers needed for sustainable scale-up: regulatory clarity including faster waterdrome approvals, infrastructure readiness such as floating docks and emergency-response systems, and commercial support through viability-gap funding. He said the government and agencies including DGCA and AAI have worked over two years to create a policy framework for seaplane operations, complementing the Modified UDAN regional connectivity scheme. ## Indian Opinion Analysis India's seaplane push follows years of stalled attempts, including the failed 2020 Kevadia seaplane service which operated only briefly. The real constraint has never been aircraft age but infrastructure: India has no fully operational waterdrome with customs, immigration and refuelling. Lakshadweep, the most cited route, requires amphibious aircraft that can land on both water and short airstrips. The Twin Otter is one of the few models capable of this, and the 20-year import rule makes it accessible. Watch for the first DGCA waterdrome approval, which will signal whether the policy framework is genuinely operational or remains aspirational. ## Coverage - thehindubusinessline.com Straight business interview, no government slant or drama This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: AAI, De Havilland Canada, DGCA, Lakshadweep, Twin Otter Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/de-havilland-canada-optimistic-on-india-seaplane-import-move/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/de-havilland-canada-optimistic-on-india-seaplane-import-move/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/