European Coastal Airlines takes a break in their seaplane operations over the skies of the Adriatic on August 13, 2016, as CEO Captain Klaus Dieter Martin responds to criticism in the national media over the company's operations.

Good news for the party crowd, as European Coastal Airlines announces the start of scheduled flights to Novalja on June 6, 2016 - flights start July 1.

The European Coastal Airlines summer continues, and arguably the most popular route so far is the daily connection from Resnik near Split Airport to downtown Pula in Istria.

With a bus connection taking 11 hours and the seaplane just one, it is little wonder that the route - which includes a spectacular flight up the coast, flying low over Zadar, Sibenik and the Kornati islands - is a main attraction of the airlines. For tourists wanting to island hop, the chance to connect from Istria to Dalmatia in an hour is welcome, but more and more people are using it for the convenience of transfer for their everyday business.

Celebrities such as singer Oliver Dragojevic, for example, who flew to Pula this morning, a comfortable way to get to Istria ahead of his concert last night. Here is Oliver, pictured with ECA boss Klaus Dieter Martin. 

He was preceded by another celebrity frequent traveller, Emmy and Golden Pen winner Ashley Colburn, who has probably covered every inch of Croatia in the last few years. After enjoying her maiden seaplane flight to Split last night, she enjoyed a drink with ECA marketing director Jan Albers before expressing her gratitude for the service on Facebook:

Had a wonderful experience flying on a seaplane yesterday from Pula-Split! Finally a service that is not only EXTREMELY convenient, but a beautiful journey!

Why not book your seaplane flight today? 

It is the moment many thought would never happen, but the seaplane revolution has taken arguably its most important first step forward since the inaugural flight from Resnik to Jelsa last August. 

A concession for downtown Split has been signed! Work will begin next week, and if all goes well, this should be completed by July 24. The team is working towards a maiden flight date of August 1, but this will be confirmed nearer the time, depending on progress. 

Two other new stations will be opened to coincide with the Split city seaport - the island of Lastovo and Vela Luka on Korcula, and in the initial stages, ECA has confirmed to us that downtown Split will be connected to Lastovo, Vela Luka, Jelsa, Rijeka Airport, Mali Losinj, Pula, and soonafter, Novalja.

Total Croatia News (launching tomorrow, follow us on Facebook) contacted European Coastal Airlines for more information and received the following statement from CEO Captain Klaus Dieter Martin.

"This is a key development for the expansion of the ECA network. The ability to connect islands such as Hvar, Korcula, Mali Losinj and Lastovo to downtown Split means that the revolution of island hopping is truly beginning."

A very exciting development, and long overdue. Congratulations to the ECA team for the persistence. With such a large and sudden expansion, I am sure there will be some growing pains, but the long-term future of island hopping (says this regular Jelsa - Split commuter) is VERY exciting indeed. 

Follow the latest on the ECA Facebook page. 

A high profile sexy project showing the modern cool Croatia. Could it be the poster child of the country's break with its corrupt past? 

Seaplanes and Dubrovnik. As ECA prepares its maiden flight from downtown Split to Dubrovnik Airport next month, how are things looking in downtown Dubrovnik? 

The Catholic destination of Medjugorje is made more accessible to its large number of Italian pilgrims. 

European Coastal Airlines expands its seaplane operations beyond the shores of Croatia into Italy.

As European Coastal Airlines takes delivery of its third Twin Otter, the network expands