Philippine seaplane operator Horizon Sun Charters (HSC) has signed an MOU with Noemi Aerospace for three Noemi electric amphibious aircraft, with options for two additional aircraft.

The agreement marks the Norwegian aircraft developer's's entry into the Philippines, an archipelago of 7,641 islands and a natural environment for amphibious aviation. Many of the country's coastal resorts and island communities are separated by relatively short distances, yet require combinations of air, road and boat transport to reach.

Electric or hybrid seaplanes offer a new alternative: direct connections between cities, airports, coastal communities and resorts without requiring conventional airport infrastructure at both ends.

For Noemi, the Philippines represents another step in building its position in Southeast Asia, which the company sees as one of the world's most promising regions for the development of seaplane operations.

“The geography of the Philippines makes a very strong case for seaplanes,” states Eric Lithun, founder and CEO of Noemi Aerospace. “With more than 7,600 islands, short distances and a strong ambition to develop its tourism industry, the Philippines offers exactly the kind of environment Noemi is being designed for. This agreement strengthens our position in Southeast Asia and provides further confirmation of the commercial potential for electric amphibious aviation in the region.”

Horizon Sun Charters provides private seaplane services in Palawan, connecting destinations including El Nido, Coron and other coastal and island locations. Its development plans focus on improving direct access to resorts and remote destinations, reducing dependence on lengthy road and ferry transfers.

Under the MoU, Noemi and HSC will explore the technical, financial and regulatory requirements for introducing the aircraft in the Philippines, as well as potential routes and operational integration. HSC intends to acquire three aircraft, with options for a further two.

“We believe Noemi is very well suited to the future of seaplane operations in the Philippines,” shares Raymond Schwab, founder and captain of Horizon Sun Charters. “With the hybrid version, we see the flexibility to operate a wide range of missions and serve the entire market. The ability to connect coastal resorts and island destinations directly and efficiently fits perfectly with our vision for a new generation of premium island access. Noemi gives us an aircraft designed specifically for the kind of operations we want to build.”

The Philippines has significant potential for seaplane connectivity but today has limited operations compared with established seaplane markets. Palawan illustrates the opportunity particularly well: direct amphibious flights can bypass multiple transfers and provide access closer to remote resorts and island destinations.

The model has already been proven in other markets. In the Maldives, seaplanes have become an integral part of the tourism infrastructure, connecting international arrivals directly with island resorts and helping support a high-value tourism economy. Southeast Asia offers similar opportunities across archipelagic markets, where distances are relatively short and conventional airport infrastructure is limited or expensive to develop.

With the HSC agreement, Noemi's commercial pipeline now grows across operators and markets worldwide.

Noemi's first aircraft is being developed as a fully electric amphibious aircraft for regional passenger transport, with the ability to operate from both water and conventional runways. Designed to carry nine passengers and one or two pilots, the platform can also be adapted for hybrid-electric or conventional fuel-based propulsion. Entry into service is targeted for 2030.