Waterfront Air

Waterfront Air was a Chinese airline venture founded in 2008 with the original objective of bringing scheduled seaplane services back to Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour. The project was associated with Michael Agopsowicz and Peter de Kantzow, the latter being the son of Sydney de Kantzow, one of Cathay Pacific Airways' co-founders. Its proposed business model focused on short regional flights using amphibious or seaplane-capable aircraft rather than conventional airport-based air services. The initial concept centered on operating from facilities near Hong Kong's waterfront, including the old Kai Tak Airport area adjacent to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. The proposed network was intended to connect Hong Kong with nearby destinations such as Macau and Shenzhen, with an estimated flying time of approximately 20 minutes. Guangzhou and other destinations in the Pearl River Delta were also identified as possible future extensions. Waterfront Air pursued a mainland Chinese operating strategy as the Hong Kong plan became less practical. In January 2010, the venture signed a memorandum of understanding with Shenzhen Airport Ferry Terminal Services Company Limited concerning seaplane services from Shenzhen Airport Ferry Pier. In February of the same year, it reached an agreement with Shenzhen Airport Group under which Shenzhen was expected to become its main base. In April 2013, it concluded a further agreement with the government of the Shenzhen Dapeng Peninsula to develop services from Nan'ao. The Hong Kong corporate entity, Waterfront Air HK, ceased operations on 23 December 2014 without having established scheduled routes, according to Hong Kong Companies Registry information. The broader concept subsequently continued under HaiXiang Air, whose Chinese corporate name was associated with the Waterfront Air English brand for planned mainland operations. HaiXiang Air received preliminary approval for an air operator certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China South Central Regional Administration on 10 August 2015. The proposed fleet was to consist of leased de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters. However, available reference material does not show that aircraft were ordered, delivered, or placed into commercial service. Viking Air's announcement in July 2015 concerning Chinese certification of the Twin Otter was relevant to the proposed operating model, but did not itself establish that Waterfront Air had begun flying. Waterfront Air is therefore best characterized as a seaplane-airline project with documented planning, infrastructure agreements, and regulatory progress, but no confirmed scheduled passenger operation. Its present corporate and operating status is unclear from the available material.

Waterfront Air was established in 2008 by Michael Agopsowicz, with Peter de Kantzow as co-founder. Its founding concept was to revive seaplane transportation from Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour and create rapid links between waterfront locations in the Pearl River Delta. The venture's proposed Hong Kong facilities included the old Kai Tak Airport area near the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. The airline planned short flights linking Hong Kong with Macau and Shenzhen, with Guangzhou and additional destinations in Shenzhen considered for later development. A Hong Kong–Shenzhen or Hong Kong–Macau flight was expected to take roughly 20 minutes, making the service a proposed alternative to longer surface journeys in the densely connected but congested region. Waterfront Air progressively placed greater emphasis on mainland China. On 6 January 2010, it signed a memorandum of understanding with Shenzhen Airport Ferry Terminal Services Company Limited for seaplane operations from Shenzhen Airport Ferry Pier. In February 2010, an agreement with Shenzhen Airport Group identified Shenzhen as the venture's intended primary base. On 1 April 2013, the company reached an agreement with the Shenzhen Dapeng Peninsula government concerning proposed operations from Nan'ao. The Hong Kong entity, Waterfront Air HK, ultimately ceased operations on 23 December 2014 without launching an established route network. The project was subsequently associated with HaiXiang Air, whose Chinese corporate identity intended to use Waterfront Air as its English operating brand for mainland Chinese seaplane services. On 10 August 2015, HaiXiang Air received preliminary AOC approval from the CAAC South Central Regional Administration. The intended aircraft type was the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, expected to be leased rather than purchased. Although Viking Air announced Chinese certification of the Twin Otter in July 2015, there is no reliable evidence in the available references that Waterfront Air ordered or received aircraft, inaugurated commercial flights, or established a regular passenger schedule. The available history consequently documents a partially developed airline project rather than a confirmed operating carrier.

• 2015

  Preliminary AOC approval for HaiXiang Air

  [1]Waterfront Airen.wikipedia.org

  The mainland-associated HaiXiang Air receives preliminary approval from the CAAC South Central branch for its intended operations.

• 2014

  Waterfront Air HK ceases operations

  [1]Waterfront Airen.wikipedia.org

  The Hong Kong entity ends operations without having established scheduled routes.

• 2013

  Nan'ao operating agreement

  [1]Waterfront Airen.wikipedia.org

  The company concludes an agreement with the Shenzhen Dapeng Peninsula government to develop seaplane services from Nan'ao.

• 2010

  Shenzhen becomes the planned operating base

  [1]Waterfront Airen.wikipedia.org

  Waterfront Air signs arrangements involving Shenzhen Airport Group and the Shenzhen Airport Ferry Terminal for proposed regional seaplane services.

• 2008

  Waterfront Air is founded

  [1]Waterfront Airen.wikipedia.org

  The venture is established with the aim of developing seaplane services from Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour.

A proposed specialist regional airline using seaplanes to provide fast waterfront-to-waterfront connections across the Greater Pearl River Delta.

• Passenger airline service

  Greater Pearl River Delta seaplane services

  A proposed network of short-distance passenger flights linking waterfront locations in Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen, and potentially Guangzhou and other Pearl River Delta destinations. The concept was designed around fast regional connections, with some proposed sectors estimated at approximately 20 minutes. No confirmed scheduled launch is documented.

• Aircraft-based service platform

  DHC-6 Twin Otter operations

  Waterfront Air planned to lease de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft for its seaplane services. The Twin Otter was selected for its suitability for short regional sectors and water-based operations, but the available sources do not confirm that aircraft were ordered, delivered, or operated by the airline.

• 2015

  Pursuit of preliminary Chinese air operator approvalOther

  Background

  The mainland operating plan required regulatory approval before commercial seaplane services could begin.

  Action taken

  HaiXiang Air received preliminary AOC approval from the CAAC South Central branch on 10 August 2015.

  Aftermath

  The approval represented regulatory progress, but the available sources do not confirm a subsequent launch of scheduled passenger operations.

  Source

• 2010

  Shift from a Hong Kong base concept toward ShenzhenStrategy

  Background

  The original plan focused on restoring seaplane operations from Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour, while later development work concentrated on mainland Chinese infrastructure and the Greater Pearl River Delta.

  Action taken

  Waterfront Air entered arrangements with Shenzhen Airport Group and Shenzhen Airport Ferry Terminal Services Company to make Shenzhen its intended main base and launch point.

  Aftermath

  The Hong Kong entity later ceased operations without launching routes, while the proposed mainland project continued under the HaiXiang Air name.

  Source

• 2015

  HaiXiang Air receives preliminary Chinese AOC approval[1]Waterfront Airen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  HaiXiang Air, which intended to operate under the Waterfront Air English brand, received preliminary air operator certificate approval from the CAAC South Central branch.

• 2014

  Waterfront Air HK ceases operations without launching routes[1]Waterfront Airen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Hong Kong entity ceased operations on 23 December 2014, reportedly without having established scheduled routes.

• 2010

  Waterfront Air signs Shenzhen seaplane terminal memorandum[1]Waterfront Airen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Waterfront Air signed a memorandum concerning proposed seaplane services from Shenzhen Airport Ferry Pier to destinations in the Greater Pearl River Delta.

• 2010

  Shenzhen identified as Waterfront Air's planned main base[1]Waterfront Airen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The airline reached an agreement with Shenzhen Airport Group as it shifted emphasis from its original Hong Kong operating concept toward mainland China.

1. 1Waterfront Airen.wikipedia.org