Downtown Split Connects to Pescara by Seaplane: Maiden Flight in Pictures

The ECA network expands further into Italy. TCN was on the maiden flight to Pescara.

Just days after the maiden flight from Dubrovnik Airport to downtown Split, modern Europe's first scheduled sea operator European Coastal Airlines opened its second route to Italy on February 5, 2016, as two Twin Otters left the seaport in Split's harbour at 09:00, destination Pescara. 

Having opened flights to Ancona Airport last year, Pescara is the second Italian destination, with Venice, Bari and Brindisi on the ECA radar, as it seeks to build its network in the Adriatic.

After a mammoth 14-year battle with Croatian bureaucracy, the first flight took place on August 27, 2014 from Resnik near Split Airport to Jelsa on the island of Hvar. Since then the airline has expanded up and down the Adriatic coast, and now has mainland connections in Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Rijeka and Pula, as well as island destinations on Lastovo, Hvar, Korcula, Rab and Losinj.

Speaking at the press conference at Pescara Airport, ECA CEO Captain Klaus Dieter Martin said that initially there will be three flights a week, with that soon to be expanded. If, as expected, Pescara opens up a seaport for ECA as well, there will be a lot more flights, with four a day planned for the summer.  

TCN also spoke exclusively to Captain Martin before the flight about progess in Croatia, with an emphasis on Dubrovnik, Vis, Korcula and Zadar. Some very interesting answers, and the interview will be published shortly.