About ECA - The Story

We will show you the Adriatic like no one else!

At the heart of European Coastal Airlines is a commitment to safe and responsible transport of guests. With years of aviation experience, ECA is the realisation of a lifelong dream of the Martin Family. Actively flying in its premiere season in 2008, ECA has been in the planning for the last 10 years. With actions like “Save the Goose”, Klaus-Dieter Martin animated friends and colleagues in the airline industry to get-on-board and support the concept of a water and land aircraft operation in Croatia.

In other parts of the world, like Canada, USA, the Caribbean and Australia, seaplanes currently play a major role in transportation of tourists, but also in day to day business of transporting citizens to hard-to-get-to-islands as well as mail, foodstuffs, and everything else that can safely be transported on board.

Flying boats such as the Grumman Goose, Grumman Mallard and Albatross as well as aircraft on floats, such as the de Havilland Twin Otter, have been safely and successfully operating in these theatres for over 50 years, and it is these planes that ECA has brought to Croatia. What makes the “Goose” unique is its ability to land on water and on land. All aircraft have been refurbished and equipped with the latest technical and safety equipment. (Seaplanes in Croatia is not a new concept, see Media-History of Seaplanes).

The flying boats have always been a great attraction to passengers, combining efficiency with a nostalgic, even adventurous, experience. At touchdown, the flying boat is a unique ship; at take off it is a one of a kind aircraft. It is the excitement of this harmony - uniting air and water (and land!) - that lies at the heart of ECA.

We are committed to becoming an environmentally responsible cornerstone of sustainable development in the Adriatic.

European Coastal Airlines was founded in September 2000, by CCI – Obana Kapitaina Ulaganja d.o.o., Zagreb, Croatia and the German company, European SeaPlane Service (ESPS) GmbH &Co KG, Landsberied, Germany (Martin/Schmid). Following the 11th of September 2001, ECA was put on hold. In 2007, a Croatian Investor decided to join the adventure.

For the long-term and continued non-monetary support of ECA, we gratefully thank the Croatian government, particularly the ministries of Transport and Maritime Affairs and the Civil Aviation Authority.