Red Sea Global (RSG), the multi-project developer behind regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea and Amaala in Saudi Arabia, has celebrated the take off of its first seaplane flight operated by subsidiary company Fly Red Sea. Created to transport guests across crystal-clear waters to St Regis Red Sea Resort and Nujuma, a Ritz Carlton Reserve, it is the first seaplane company launched in the Kingdom.

“As a pilot myself, I was deeply invested in the efforts to build Fly Red Sea,” says group CEO John Pagano. “Our goal was to create a company that would allow us to maintain high standards across every guest touchpoint, that would give us the platform to explore technologies to reduce the aviation industry’s carbon footprint and which would prioritise giving skilled, rewarding career opportunities to the Saudi people. Fly Red Sea achieves this on every level.”

Managed by a team of aviation specialists, Fly Red Sea’s initial fleet of four Cessna Caravan 208 seaplanes are each equipped with boutique, luxury interiors. The fleet will expand in line with the destination’s development phases, growing to nine seaplanes by 2028 and to more than 20 by 2030.

Each aircraft can accommodate a pilot and up to six guests with luggage for guest transfers to water-based resorts, or up to nine guests for scenic tours across the entire destination.

As a subsidiary of RSG, sustainability is at the core of Fly Red Sea’s ambitions. RSG has chosen to fuel its fleet of seaplanes using SAF from day one. It is also exploring the possibility of fully electric seaplanes and is continuing to work closely with ZeroAvia to trial retrofitting its Cessna Caravan seaplanes with hydrogen-electric propulsion technology.

RSG is similarly committed to employing national talent, with the first Saudi seaplane captain’s licence already issued to Fly Red Sea and the first seaplane-specific engineers now hired at the destination.

At the recently inaugurated Red Sea International airport, which is the home base of Fly Red Sea, a dedicated seaplane runway runs in parallel to the main terminal and will eventually encompass a dedicated seaplane terminal.

The airport is now operational and the first two hotels are taking bookings. Upon full completion in 2030, the destination will comprise 50 resorts, offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites. The destination will also include luxury marinas, golf courses, entertainment, food and beverages, and leisure facilities.