Maritime Energy Heli Air Services (MEHAIR), an Indian seaplane operator, has signed an LOI with Tidal Flight for the acquisition of five firm and five optional Polaris hybrid-electric seaplanes. The agreement was formalised on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow 2026, underscoring MEHAIR's long-term commitment to building a modern, sustainable and scalable seaplane ecosystem for India, one of the world's largest emerging markets for water-based aviation.

Tidal Flight Polaris is a nine-12 passenger hybrid-electric amphibious aircraft engineered for regional connectivity with minimal infrastructure dependence. Designed to operate seamlessly from both water and conventional runways, the Polaris offers a runway-independent, infrastructure-light platform ideally suited for India's vast coastline, island territories, inland waterways and remote regions. Aircraft deliveries are targeted from 2030, aligned with MEHAIR's phased fleet induction and long-term network expansion strategy.

The aircraft's hybrid-electric propulsion architecture is expected to deliver significantly lower fuel burn, reduced operating costs and quieter operations compared to conventional regional aircraft, while maintaining compatibility with future SAFs. These characteristics position the Polaris as a next-generation solution for environmentally responsible short-haul air mobility, supporting India's broader decarbonisation and regional connectivity objectives.

Commenting on the signing, Siddharth Verma, managing director, MEHAIR, says: “This LOI is a strategic milestone in MEHAIR's long-term vision to not only operate seaplanes in India, but to help build a sustainable, future-ready ecosystem around water-based aviation. The Polaris platform aligns strongly with our objective of unlocking new regional markets, dramatically reducing travel times and enabling safe, efficient and environmentally responsible connectivity across India's vast maritime and inland geography.”

Commenting on the collaboration, Jude Augustine, co-founder and CEO, Tidal Flight, adds: “With India investing so strongly in amphibious aviation through the UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme, this partnership with a leader in Indian seaplane aviation like MEHAIR is a great opportunity to bring Polaris to a rapidly growing market. As a hybrid-electric aircraft, Polaris will enable rapid scale-up of sustainable and affordable service, even in locations with limited electric infrastructure.”