SkyHop Aviation
SkyHop Aviation is India's first certified commercial seaplane operator, founded in 2025 and led by Avani Singh. It operates DHC-6 Twin Otter amphibious aircraft to connect Lakshadweep islands and mainland India via Kochi under the UDAN 5.5 scheme, serving tourists, residents, and charter clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2025
- HeadquartersGurugram, India
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SkyHop Aviation does
SkyHop Aviation is India's first dedicated commercial seaplane operator, incorporated in 2025 and headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana. The company was founded by Avani Singh, daughter of SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh, who provides strategic and financial backing. SkyHop received India's first Air Operator Certificate (AOC) for commercial seaplane operations from the DGCA in April 2026 and commenced scheduled commercial service to the Lakshadweep islands in June 2026.
The company operates a fleet of De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter amphibious aircraft — 19-seaters capable of operating on water and short unpaved airstrips — three of which are leased from Japanese lessor AERL. SkyHop completed India's first domestic seaplane conversion by affixing floats to a Twin Otter in-country, and self-funded dedicated jetty infrastructure across all five initial destination islands (Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan, Agatti, Kadmat), connected to the mainland via Kochi and CIAL. Operations are conducted under the government's UDAN 5.5 regional connectivity scheme, which provides viability gap funding for underserved routes.
SkyHop generates revenue through scheduled passenger fares (one-way sector pricing plus GST and convenience fees), ancillary services (excess baggage, travel certificates, special baggage handling), and on-demand charter services for corporate, medical, cargo, and premium resort clients. Its GTM combines a direct-to-consumer digital channel (skyhop.in, 24/7 reservation centre, airport ticketing) with sales-led charter enquiry handling and authorised travel partner distribution (including SPORTS, Praveg Limited, and Taj Hotels for inbound foreign tourists). The customer base spans leisure tourists, Lakshadweep residents, medical/emergency services, cargo operators, and corporate charter clients, with tourism as the primary segment at launch.
SkyHop Aviation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SkyHop Aviation
- Legal name
- SkyHop Limited
- Website
- https://skyhop.in
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2025
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- SkyHop Aviation is India's first certified commercial seaplane operator, founded in 2025 and led by Avani Singh. It operates DHC-6 Twin Otter amphibious aircraft to connect Lakshadweep islands and mainland India via Kochi under the UDAN 5.5 scheme, serving tourists, residents, and charter clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SkyHop Aviation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Regional Air Transportation
- NAICS
- Scheduled Air Transportation (48111), Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211)
- SIC
- Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512), Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Seaplane & Amphibious Air Taxi (TLAFABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- On-Demand Scheduled Commuter (Part 135/Small Aircraft Scheduled) (THABACAN), Essential Air Service (EAS) & Subsidized Regional Operators (THABACAC)
Keywords
Where SkyHop Aviation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gurugram
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
SkyHop Aviation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Scheduled Passenger Air Services: SkyHop operates India's first dedicated scheduled commercial seaplane airline, selling tickets for scheduled flights connecting Lakshadweep islands with each other and the mainland. Revenue is generated through one-way sector fares, with pricing that varies by route and booking timing. The airline is a paperless operator offering digital itineraries with PNR references.
- Ancillary Services: Additional revenue streams include excess baggage fees (INR 750-1800 per kg at airport, or pre-booked at INR 2500-11900 for 5-12 kg slabs), travel certificates (INR 999), and convenience fees (INR 250-350 per transaction). Infant travel fees of INR 1,899 per infant per sector also contribute to ancillary revenue.
- Charter Services: On-demand private air charters for customers seeking seamless transfers to exclusive and remote locations. SkyHop offers flexible aircraft solutions across water and land operations, including corporate travel, island transfers, group movements, special events, medical evacuation, and cargo services. Exclusive hotel partnerships complement the charter offering.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard one-way domestic airfare |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Infant travel |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pre-booked checked baggage |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Airport excess baggage |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Travel certificate |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Special baggage handling |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
SkyHop Aviation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SkyHop Aviation operates India's first dedicated commercial seaplane airline, providing scheduled passenger air services and on-demand charter flights using 19-seater amphibious De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft. The company connects five Lakshadweep islands (Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan, Agatti, Kadmat) with each other and with the Indian mainland via Kochi, supported by the UDAN 5.5 government regional connectivity scheme. Ancillary offerings include private air charters, air ambulance and medical evacuation, cargo and last-mile logistics, and resort-based charter partnerships.
Product overview
SkyHop Aviation operates India's first fleet of amphibious seaplanes, offering scheduled commercial seaplane services between Lakshadweep islands (Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan, Agatti, and Kadmat) and the mainland. The portfolio includes scheduled seaplane services as the core offering, supplemented by resort-based charters, private air charters, air ambulance and medical evacuation services, and cargo and last-mile logistics. All operations use De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft equipped with floats for water operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Scheduled Seaplane Services India's first scheduled commercial seaplane service connecting five Lakshadweep islands (Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan, Agatti, Kadmat) with each other and the Indian mainland via Kochi, using 19-seater amphibious De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft.
- Private Air Charters On-demand private air charter service for customers seeking seamless transfers to exclusive and remote locations using seaplanes and small aircraft, with booking through dedicated charter hotline (0124-4966200) and email ([email protected]).
- Air Ambulance and Medical Evacuation Seaplane and small aircraft equipped for rapid medical evacuation flights, especially in regions without road or rail access, supporting emergency transport and organ delivery.
- Cargo and Last-Mile Logistics High-value, time-sensitive cargo delivery service to and from islands, ports, and industrial clusters where connectivity remains a bottleneck, using seaplanes and small aircraft without requiring runway infrastructure.
- Resort-Based Charters Premium chartered seaplane connectivity offered through strategic partnerships with luxury resorts, providing seamless guest transfers to exclusive island destinations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Direct seaplane connectivity to Lakshadweep islands, significantly reducing travel time compared to ship transport (which can take days) to minutes by air
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SkyHop Aviation
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
SkyHop Aviation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SkyHop Aviation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL)coreCIAL is facilitating seaplane trial operations connecting Kochi with multiple Lakshadweep islands, with 12 trial flights scheduled over three days using a 20-seater Twin Otter aircraft. SkyHop's seaplane operates routes including Kochi-Agatti-Kalpeni-Kavaratti and Kochi-Kadmat-Kiltan-Agatti. CIAL provides operational infrastructure and support for seaplane launch.
- De Havilland Aircraft of CanadacoreSkyHop operates De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft, the primary seaplane platform for regional connectivity. De Havilland is evaluating global supply chain partnership opportunities in India following government incentives for indigenous seaplane manufacturing. SkyHop acquired aircraft previously operated by Fly Big airline for its fleet.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SkyHop Aviation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Flybig: Indian regional airline that previously operated the DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft SkyHop acquired for its fleet, and competes in the same Tier-2/3 and underserved regional connectivity space under UDAN scheme.
- Pawan Hans Helicopters: India's largest helicopter and seaplane operator (government-owned), which conducted India's earliest commercial seaplane trials from Juhu in 2010 and operates scheduled and charter rotorcraft services to remote regions — directly comparable to SkyHop's amphibious and remote-connectivity mission.
- TruJet: Hyderabad-based Indian regional carrier operating small turboprop aircraft on Tier-2/3 routes under UDAN — comparable aircraft size, regional connectivity focus, and government-subsidy-dependent model.
- Trans Maldivian Airways: World's largest seaplane operator providing scheduled inter-island transfers in the Maldives — directly comparable in operating amphibious aircraft for island resort connectivity with strong tourism passenger mix.
- Harbour Air: North America's largest seaplane operator providing scheduled and charter services across British Columbia — directly comparable seaplane business model, amphibious fleet operations, and tourism/commuter dual use cases.
Broad incumbents
- IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation): India's largest airline by market share, expanding into regional connectivity under UDAN — represents a broader competitive incumbent that could absorb seaplane and regional connectivity routes as it scales its ATR fleet.
- Alliance Air: Government-backed Indian regional airline subsidiary of Air India, operating under UDAN scheme connecting smaller cities and remote regions — competes with SkyHop for the same regional connectivity route awards.
- SpiceJet: Indian low-cost carrier whose promoter Ajay Singh backs SkyHop; provides regional connectivity including smaller Indian cities and offers the operational playbook and regulatory expertise that SkyHop leverages as a sponsor airline.
Emerging players
- Tropic Air: Belize-based regional airline operating scheduled and charter flights including amphibious capability — comparable small-island and remote-region connectivity model with similar fleet size and tourism-driven demand.
Others
- De Havilland Canada: Manufacturer of the DHC-6 Twin Otter platform that SkyHop operates and the prospective partner evaluating India supply chain opportunities — a critical enabler and platform supplier rather than direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SkyHop Aviation social profiles
Digital presenceSkyHop Aviation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SkyHop Aviation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
SkyHop Aviation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SkyHop Aviation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SkyHop Aviation
What does SkyHop Aviation do?
SkyHop Aviation operates India's first dedicated commercial seaplane airline, providing scheduled passenger air services and on-demand charter flights using 19-seater amphibious De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft. The company connects five Lakshadweep islands (Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan, Agatti, Kadmat) with each other and with the Indian mainland via Kochi, supported by the UDAN 5.5 government regional connectivity scheme. Ancillary offerings include private air charters, air ambulance and medical evacuation, cargo and last-mile logistics, and resort-based charter partnerships.
Is SkyHop Aviation a public or private company?
SkyHop Aviation is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SkyHop Aviation founded?
SkyHop Aviation was founded in 2025. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is SkyHop Aviation based?
SkyHop Aviation is headquartered in Gurugram, India, in the Asia region.
How does SkyHop Aviation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Scheduled Passenger Air Services are the primary driver. The others are ancillary Services and charter Services.
Who are SkyHop Aviation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Flybig, Pawan Hans Helicopters, TruJet, Trans Maldivian Airways and Harbour Air. Broad incumbents are IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation), Alliance Air and SpiceJet. Tropic Air is listed as an emerging player. De Havilland Canada is listed as an others.
Does SkyHop Aviation have an API?
No public API is recorded for SkyHop Aviation.
What industry is SkyHop Aviation in?
SkyHop Aviation's product category is Regional Air Transportation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFABAI, Seaplane & Amphibious Air Taxi, with a secondary code of THABACAN, On-Demand Scheduled Commuter (Part 135/Small Aircraft Scheduled). Its NAICS code is 48111 and its SIC code is 4512.