By Motor, Sail, and Now Seaplane?

We are quite accustomed to strolling along the docks of any port where our view is defined by countless masts, outboards, and boats that patiently await the moment to cast off and set sail. However, this week at the Port of Palma, a new tenant sharing the docks and water has caught our attention—a passenger seaplane.

Faced with such a finding, one question arises: What is this doing here?

This leads us to consider whether it is possible to board a plane at the port instead of going to Palma Airport (Son Sant Joan). The answer is yes, though it may seem unimaginable. Taking a flight from the Port of Palma to Ibiza could soon be a reality, thanks to a company that conducted its first test flights in a seaplane this week to connect the Balearic Islands.

After an investment of more than seven million euros, seven years of hard work planning, negotiating, and convincing the Balearic authorities, the project of traveling between islands by seaplane seems to have come to light in the Balearics, even if it was only for two days and in "test mode." Specifically, on November 5th and 6th, the Isla Air Express seaplane was moored at the West Dock of the Port of Palma, from where it conducted its first boardings and test flights connecting Mallorca and Ibiza.

"It's a new process, there is no national legislation so it has been a learning process for all parties," acknowledges Toni Jiménez, a representative of the promoting company, who adds, "It has been very difficult to get to this point, but once we have arrived, everything has worked like clockwork."

These tests were made possible thanks to the participation of various entities, Jiménez assures. "We have had spectacular collaboration from the Civil Guard, and also from Ports who have been quick, effective, and efficient, and even from the Royal Household they have facilitated flying over the restricted airspace of the Marivent area," explains Jiménez. Indeed, the takeoff and landing maneuvers of the aircraft require great coordination. Once the passengers are on board the seaplane, permission for takeoff is requested from the air control tower at Palma Airport, and the port is notified of the exit and takeoff maneuver to coordinate the entry and exit of large vessels. Ten minutes before takeoff, auxiliary boats and port pilots are positioned around a virtual runway, an area located and demarcated by geolocation, where the aircraft will transit and eventually take off.

Very few people have been fortunate enough to experience flying by taking off from the sea and landing in the port, after a short journey between Mallorca and Ibiza of just over half an hour. These seaplanes can transport up to 21 people, 19 passengers, and two pilots. The limited seating might lead some to think that once regular flights begin, we will be talking about an exclusive service only suitable for the most select pockets since the ticket prices will be exorbitant. However, according to what we have been told, flying from the Mallorcan capital to the larger Pitiusa Island would cost almost the same from the Port of Palma as from the airport. "It's approximately the price of a ticket from any airline with a resident discount. We're talking about €30 per trip," assures Jiménez.

The main goal of the company is to create a new airline that connects the Balearic Islands. To achieve this, in addition to purchasing two seaplanes, a large team has been brought together. "We've brought the best, experienced pilots, seaplane specialists, airplane maintenance teams, mechanics..." he acknowledges. And a Mallorcan company and another from Ibiza, experts in dock construction, have been in charge of setting up the entire infrastructure where the aircraft was moored and from where the invited passengers boarded. Temporary docks that will be dismantled starting today, as this Thursday, November 7th, at 12 pm, the seaplane took off towards Marseille, where it is based. "As soon as the plane takes off, both the ports of Ibiza and Palma will be left as if we had never been here."

In addition, these aerial operations between islands could be extended to the mainland, as Jiménez advances, "the possibility of conducting test flights in the ports of Barcelona and Alicante is already well advanced."

For now, after these two days of tests, the time has come to analyze, study the viability of the project here in the Islands, and await the authorization of the port and air authorities to see if everything continues to move forward. The company's conclusion is clear, "the logistics in Palma are magnificent and in Ibiza, we would like to study other possible locations to be able to carry out the takeoff and landing operations with complete tranquility and security."