Sydney Seaplanes has successfully completed a demonstration flight between Sydney and Canberra before landing on Lake Burley Griffin in the nation’s capital.
The company has applied to open up the route to consumers and hopes to fly three return flights a day between the lake and Rose Bay on Sydney Harbour.
It’s still working with the relevant authorities but would like to have it up and running in the second half of 2021.
The 55-minute hop between the two cities on a 15-seat De Havilland Twin Otter seaplane would cost $300 each way.
Aaron Shaw, the managing director at Sydney Seaplanes, told Guardian Australia a week ago: “It’s genuinely the fastest way to get between both cities.”
“The flight time is only one hour to the centre of each city. That’s shaving a good two hours off any alternative, whether driving or at the airport.”
Tuesday’s test flight used a Cessna seaplane. A small crowd burst into applause as the 10-seater touched down on the water.
“From an operations point of view, the flight went great,” a company spokeswoman told Guardian Australia. “It was a little rainy this morning but the touchdown on Lake Burley Griffen was magnificent.”
The National Capital Authority is examining the proposal and the Canberra community has been urged to provide feedback. Lake users, environmentalists and Canberra traditionalists are expected to have their say alongside business and tourism groups.
The Canberra Times on Tuesday reported noise monitors and heritage experts had been deployed as the plane landed and made its way to dock at Yarralumla Bay.
The National party is excited about the route, seeing it as a turbo-charged way to boost regional aviation and tourism.
