Denmark’s Nordic Seaplanes is planning to operate Elfly Group’s in-development Noemi all-electric amphibious aircraft. On September 24, the scheduled and charter carrier signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to buy five of the new aircraft in an agreement that Norway-based Elfly said includes options for 10 more and is worth around $150 million.
Under the deal, the two companies agreed that Nordic Seaplanes’ operations team will work with Elfly to share lessons from its experience of using De Havilland DHC6-300 Twin Otter floatplanes since 2016. The companies will also explore markets for amphibious aircraft in coastal communities beyond Scandinavia.
Nordic Seaplanes chairman and CEO Ole Christiansen and Elfly founder and CEO Eric Lithun signed the agreement in the Danish capital Copenhagen. The companies were attending an event called Nordic Horizons—Towards Future Flight.
“We have a very successful operation with our Twin Otters, but we are excited to embrace a future into 2030 that is electric,” Christiansen said. “With Elfly’s Noemi in a nine-seat configuration, we are making an investment in clean technology, and sustainability, which will ensure our business well into the future, not just for Denmark but as well look to expand in other coastal markets too.”
Initially, Elfly’s business plan envisaged that it would build and operate the Noemi, which stands for No Emissions, under its own air operator certificate. “However, collaborating with this well-positioned European partner, with its wealth of experience here and overseas, makes a lot of sense. We can learn more from them about operating in a challenging environment and together we aim to tap seaplane markets beyond Scandinavia. The renaissance of the seaplane is coming.”
Nordic Seaplanes is owned by Lasse Rungholm and Lars Erik Nielsen. Rungholm previously worked as a capital with Maldivian Air Taxi and Trans Maldivian Airways. These companies merged in 2013, with a 65-strong fleet of seaplanes. Eight years ago, the partners decided to launch operations in their home country, Denmark.
The company’s Twin Otters operate weekday services between Copenhagen and Aarhus, providing a 45-minute connection between Denmark’s two largest cities. The alternative is a drive of almost four hours or a three-hour train journey. Sightseeing flights are also part of its business plan.
Elfly plans to offer the Noemi in configurations of between six and 13 passengers with a range of up to around 109 nm. It expects to bring a cargo-carrying version to market in 2028, followed by the passenger version in 2030, following type certification under EASA's CS23 rules.