Aviation News – NOEMI Aerospace has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Philippine seaplane operator Horizon Sun Charters for three NOEMI amphibious aircraft, with options for two additional units. The milestone agreement marks NOEMI Aerospace’s commercial entry into the Philippines, bringing zero-emission regional air transport to the archipelago.
The strategic partnership establishes a foothold in a nation composed of 7,641 islands, offering an ideal operating environment for amphibious aviation. Many of the country’s popular coastal resorts and island communities remain separated by short distances yet currently require complex, time-consuming combinations of road journeys, ferry transfers, and conventional flights to access.
Under the MoU, NOEMI Aerospace and Horizon Sun Charters will jointly evaluate the technical, financial, and regulatory requirements for introducing the airframes into the country, alongside route mapping and operational integration. Operating primarily in Palawan, Horizon Sun Charters plans to deploy the new fleet to enhance direct connectivity to key tourist hubs including El Nido and Coron, while reducing reliance on lengthy ground and water transport.
The NOEMI amphibious aircraft uses electric or hybrid propulsion to deliver direct connections between cities, regional airports, coastal communities, and luxury resorts without requiring dedicated runway infrastructure at both ends. By taking off and landing directly on water or existing runways, the nine-passenger platform bypasses costly land development while drastically lowering operating expenses and flight emissions.
“The geography of the Philippines makes a very strong case for seaplanes,” said 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.”
For NOEMI Aerospace, expanding into the Philippines represents a major step in building its operational footprint across Southeast Asia, a region identified as a primary growth market for sustainable seaplane travel. Tourism developers and regional transportation authorities can look to this deployment as a scalable model for clean, infrastructure-light island logistics.
The agreement between NOEMI Aerospace and Horizon Sun Charters signals a major leap forward for eco-friendly regional transport in Southeast Asia. By replacing multi-leg road and ferry connections with direct amphibious flights, the initiative will boost island accessibility and tourism efficiency. As regulatory and technical assessments proceed, this fleet deployment promises to set a new benchmark for zero-emission island mobility.
