After days of uncertainty and without flights at the peak of the season, European Coastal Airlines announced on August 22, 2016 that flights will soon recommence.
It is the news many have been hoping for after days of uncertaintly after the grounding of its Twin Otters on August 13 following an inspection by the Croatian Civil Aviation Authority and an investigative report by leading Croatian news portal, Index.hr, as European Coastal Airlines has just announced the resumption of flights on its Facebook page:
[BREAKING NEWS] We are happy to inform all passengers that our operations will resume on Thursday, August 25th. Book now online on http://www.ec-air.eu/en/ and celebrate with us by saving up to 30% using the promotional code „IMAMODOKUMENT“. (We have the document)
The document refers to the missing documentation the seaplane company was asked to supply by the Croatian Civil Aviation Authority after temporarily blocking the company’s AOC (Air Operator Certificate) until this documentation was provided.
The temporary suspension had a knock on effect in Denmark, where start up seaplane service Nordic Seaplanes had been operating under the same licence. Fights from Copenhage to Aarhus should also now resume at the same time.
This has been a difficult time for ECA, with so many cancelled flights during peak season, which has led to a backlog in refunding payments for cancelled flights, as well as a severe loss of revenue. The company is working on clearing this backlog over the coming days.
After such a high profile investigation into the company at the peak of the season, it is hoped that the restoration of operations by the authorities can open a new chapter in what has been one of the most innovative additions to Croatian tourism ever.