Splitexpress.com launch partners with Regent Craft’s ‘flying ferry’

On the Adriatic Sea, where Splitexpress.com operates, the crossing is six hours with a fast ferry and overnight with a classic ferry (Italy to Croatia connection which is operated by other operators. Splitexpress.com currently operate domestic routes only), while an aeroplane is an hour or less. “But all the hassle of going through the airport adds a lot of time, and this is where we can save by using the flying ferry and compared with an aeroplane, it would be cheaper.”

Mr Klanac adds, “Running costs would be lower per seat so a wider audience would be using the vessel. At the moment our focus is on the 12-seat model.”

The idea is that Splitexpress.com would use the vessel within its national operations, for example between Split and the islands, which would reduce the sailing time from between 1-1.5 hours to 15-20 minutes.

Mr Klanac says, “This increases our capacity and focus on smaller destinations as we do not need 100 passengers to be profitable, we only need 6-12.”

While he says the charge would be higher than for a standard ferry, it would be cheaper than an aeroplane.

Mr Klanac expands, “It would effectively be getting into a market of transport with the rig boats that exist nowadays, but they sail for an hour whereas we would sail in much less time, for the same price or less and four times faster.”

He says he hopes Splitexpress.com would be able to have a flying ferry by 2025-2026 and the company would be potentially be interested in the model for 50-plus passengers, but for international operations.

Splitexpress.com is keen to expand its operations. Mr Klanac says, “We are interested in developing the passenger services on the water in Croatia in general.”

Brittany Ferries also has a launch partnership with Regent Craft for its ‘flying ferries’.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr Mathieu says, “I want to show the world we are committed to finding solutions… If we want to reduce CO₂ emissions we need to think outside of the box and that is what this kind of initiative is, it helps to think differently.”