Novalja Seaplane Terminal

The terminal's closure was a direct result of the shutdown of its sole operator, European Coastal Airlines (ECA). In August 2016, the Croatian Civil Aviation Agency (CCAA) grounded ECA's entire fleet and suspended its Air Operator Certificate (AOC). This action was taken following whistleblower reports and subsequent inspections that uncovered significant safety and maintenance concerns. The issues included documented cases of corrosion, cracks, and other technical defects on the aircraft that were allegedly not being properly addressed. The CCAA cited serious breaches of safety regulations and a deficient safety management culture within the airline. Despite attempts by ECA to rectify the issues, their AOC was ultimately revoked, leading to the airline's permanent cessation of operations and subsequent bankruptcy. The closure was therefore due to regulatory and safety enforcement, not economic failure in isolation, military conversion, or a specific accident at the terminal itself.

The site of the former seaplane terminal has been fully decommissioned. The physical infrastructure, which was minimal and consisted of a floating dock or pontoon for the seaplanes and a small shoreside booth for check-in, was removed after European Coastal Airlines ceased operations. The location at coordinates 44.5527, 14.8838 is now simply part of the main public waterfront promenade (Riva) and harbor in the town of Novalja. It is used for general public access, pedestrian traffic, and the mooring of private boats and tourist vessels. There are no remaining physical traces or memorials indicating its past use as an aviation facility.

The Novalja Seaplane Terminal was a significant part of the first modern scheduled seaplane service in Croatia, and indeed Europe, operated by European Coastal Airlines. Active primarily during the summer tourist seasons of 2015 and 2016, it connected the highly popular tourist destination of Novalja on the island of Pag with key mainland hubs like Split and Pula, as well as other islands. Its operations, utilizing De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter seaplanes, represented a revolutionary approach to island transport in the Adriatic. The service offered a dramatic reduction in travel time (e.g., Novalja to Split in under an hour, compared to several hours by ferry and bus), which was a major draw for tourists, particularly those visiting the famous music festivals on Zrće beach. The terminal, though consisting of just a simple pontoon and check-in kiosk on the Novalja Riva (waterfront), symbolized a new era of fast, convenient island-hopping that, while short-lived, demonstrated the high potential for such a network in a country with over a thousand islands.

There are currently no concrete or official plans to reopen the Novalja Seaplane Terminal. While the idea of re-establishing a seaplane network in Croatia remains popular and is frequently discussed in tourism and investment circles, no company has successfully launched a new, sustainable service since the collapse of ECA. Several potential investors and companies have announced intentions to start seaplane operations in the Adriatic over the years, but they have faced significant regulatory hurdles, logistical challenges, and high startup costs. The reopening of a terminal in Novalja is entirely contingent on a new, fully certified airline deciding to include the destination in a future network. As of now, this remains a speculative prospect rather than a planned project.