Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched a seaplane demonstration in Vijayawada, marking the beginning of commercial seaplane services in the state. The initiative, a joint effort between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the A.P. Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC), will see SpiceJet operate seaplanes on the Vijayawada-Hyderabad and Vijayawada-Nagarjuna Sagar routes by March 2025. The Chief Minister highlighted the potential of seaplanes to revolutionize tourism in the state, citing the accessibility they provide to remote tourist destinations like Srisailam, Konaseema, and Gandikota. He emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting the growth of the tourism sector, including granting industry status to tourism in the upcoming policy. The event also saw the announcement of revised guidelines for seaplane operations by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, aimed at making the sector more viable. With a focus on safety and licensing, the new guidelines are expected to encourage the development of seaplane services across the country.