Ahmedabad: The seaplane service from the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad to the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, which was launched on October 31, has been suspended indefinitely.

A spokesperson of SpiceJet, the airline operating the service, said, “Seaplane operations have been temporarily suspended due to mandatory aircraft maintenance.Since the maintenance facility (dry and wet dock) is still under construction at Ahmedabad, the aircraft has to be sent to our lessor’s facility at Maldives. The operation will resume once the aircraft is back. The maintenance facility at Ahmedabad should be ready soon which would ensure that future maintenance is done here itself. The maintenance had been planned beforehand. We didn’t take any bookings beyond November 27 as this was pre-planned,” said the spokesperson. ”

According to Airline officials a wet-and-dry dock is required f0r routine maintenance and since the maintenance facility (dry and wet dock) is still under construction in Ahmedabad, the aircraft has to be sent to our lessor’s facility in the Maldives. Operations will resume once the aircraft is back.

India’s first Seaplane service is being operated by SpiceJet arm Spice Shuttle with a single Seaplane aircraft that has been wet-leased Maldives government owned Maldives Island Aviation Services (MIAS). Pilots of a Seaplane aircraft — a 19-seater Twin Otter 300 — were also from Maldives.