JOLY Airlines, a South African start-up carrier, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for 30 ME-1A Amphibious Aircraft currently under development by Mallard Enterprises. The airline is aiming to improve connectivity across Africa with regional aviation.
The ME-1A will be able to take off and land on both land and water. It will have 19 passenger seats and a range of 350 nautical miles or an extended range of 980 nautical miles with 10 passengers. The aircraft will feature low emissions, low noise, and low operating costs.
“The ME-1A amphibious aircraft’s new-generation 21st-century design is an ideal addition to the African market. It will provide a safe, reliable, economical, and environmentally sustainable travel experience to connect our customers across areas that were previously inaccessible,” said Shawn J. van der Merwe, JOLY Group Executive Chairman and CEO.
“Mallard Enterprises is excited to partner with JOLY Airlines,” commented Dan Peabody, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Mallard Enterprises. “Their strong regional knowledge and access to a wealth of relationships within Africa only broadens both our horizons. The ME-1A, with its competitive economics, amphibious capability, speed, and green credentials, fits well with JOLY Airlines’ vision of an environmentally friendly and aware airline.”
Mallard is planning to build a small number of full-scale prototypes soon, with test flights hoped to begin in 2027 to gain Type Certification. Following successful test flights and certification, the first customer deliveries are estimated to be in 2028.
“JOLY Airlines is addressing a substantial need in the African continent connecting multiple communities within South Africa to many regional countries,” added Mohan Chunduri, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer at Mallard Enterprises. “We are extremely happy to collaborate with JOLY Airlines with our ME-1A 19 passenger hull-based amphibious aircraft to support the growth of seaplanes in Africa. As we throw our weight behind JOLY Airlines, together we are creating a new benchmark of amphibious aviation in Africa.”
Photo: Mallard Enterprises
