Dubai: Seawings, a Dubai-based seaplane tour company that offers scheduled and chartered flights, will expand its fleet next year with an additional Cesna 208 Caravan.
The company, which offers sightseeing flights across the UAE, currently has a fleet of three Cesna 208 Caravans.
Chief Executive Stuart Wheeler said in an interview on Monday that Seawings is likely to lease the fourth aircraft in winter next year.
The Cesna 208 Caravan is a single-engine turboprop aircraft that typically seats nine passengers and a pilot. Wheeler said Seawings flights have an average of six to seven passengers on board.
Privately-owned Seawings expects 20 per cent revenue growth in 2014, compared to the 27 per cent increase it experienced in 2013, according to Wheeler.
Seawings is looking to increase its fleet next year following the recent introduction of flights to The World islands off the coast of Dubai. Passengers are able to take a water taxi from The Palm to The World islands where Seawings recently obtained an approval to take off and land from.
Wheeler said the addition of The World islands to its flight schedule is likely to contribute 20 per cent increase in company revenue.
Seawings has launched the new flight as it looks to maintain its market share. Launched eight years ago, the company competes with the tours including diving and desert safaris for customers, according to Wheeler.
He said that most of the customers are guests staying in Dubai’s major hotels with German and Indian visitors representing the largest demographic.
