Norwegian aircraft manufacturer NOEMI Aerospace is expanding its footprint across Asia, signing two separate agreements in August 2026 to explore electric amphibious aircraft operations in India and the Philippines.
A partnership with India’s Pawan Hans
On August 10, 2026, NOEMI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pawan Hans, India’s leading helicopter operator, to explore introducing electric seaplanes for regional air transport across the country.
Naidu said the vision extends beyond simply operating seaplanes in India, pointing to the country’s Union Budget 2026, which includes incentives for domestic seaplane manufacturing and a new Seaplane Viability Gap Funding scheme to support operations.
Eric Lithun, Founder and CEO of NOEMI Aerospace, said the company was honored to begin working with Pawan Hans and the Indian government, calling India’s regional connectivity ambitions a natural fit for electric amphibious aircraft.
Pawan Hans Chairman and Managing Director Sunil Kumar Nagdawne described the MoU as an early step toward building India’s sustainable aviation future.
The collaboration ties into India’s UDAN regional connectivity program, which has plans for roughly 150 new seaplane routes nationwide.
For now, the partnership will focus on evaluating operational concepts, infrastructure needs, and commercial opportunities in the Indian market.
A second deal in the Philippines
Two days later, on August 12, 2026, NOEMI announced a separate MoU with Philippine seaplane operator Horizon Sun Charters (HSC), which intends to acquire three NOEMI aircraft, with options for two more.
The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands, presents a natural market for amphibious aviation, where many coastal resorts and island communities require a mix of air, road, and boat transport to reach.
Lithun said the country’s geography, short distances, and growing tourism ambitions make it well suited to the kind of aircraft NOEMI is developing.
Horizon Sun Charters currently operates seaplane services in Palawan, connecting destinations such as El Nido and Coron. Raymond Schwab, the company’s founder and captain, said NOEMI’s aircraft offers the flexibility needed to serve a wide range of routes and support a new generation of direct island access.
Building a broader regional strategy
Both agreements mark early steps for NOEMI, whose first aircraft, a fully electric, nine-passenger amphibious platform, is designed to operate from water and conventional runways alike, with entry into service targeted for 2030.
The company pointed to the Maldives, where seaplanes already play a central role in tourism infrastructure, as a model for what similar connectivity could look like across Southeast Asia and South Asia.
With agreements now in place in both India and the Philippines, NOEMI said its commercial pipeline continues to grow as it looks to expand across additional markets in the region.