By By Paul Bradbury Jul 28, 2014 in Travel Jelsa - After a 13-year battle with bureaucracy, Europe's first scheduled modern hydroplane service is set to start in Croatia next month. Speaking to the national media close to the company headquarters at Resnik, near Split Airport, ECA CEO Captain Klaus Dieter Martin announced that the first flight would take place by the middle of August from Split Airport to the pretty resort town of Jelsa on Croatia's premier island of Hvar, with a journey time of just 13 minutes. European Coastal Airlines CEO Klaus Dieter Martin talking to the Croatian media at the Split Airport site of Resnik, as the pontoons are finally placed in the water. European Coastal Airlines Captain Martin was speaking against a backdrop of pontoons in the sea which will form the base of the sea port at Resnik, close to Split Airport, the first sign of physical construction for the ECA project in their ambitious planes to change the nature of Croatian island travel. Containers and pontoons for all the initial destinations have been locally sourced and ready for implementation, and the first works on the Jelsa station started this afternoon. Ancona to Jelsa direct in just 66 minutes compares favourably with a 9-hour overnight ferry to Split, followed by a 2-hour ferry to Stari Grad on Hvar. European Coastal Airlines Initial locations will include Pula, the island of Rab, Zagreb, Zadar Airport, Split Airport and Jelsa, as well as an international connection to Ancona. As one example of how life will change for tourists, there will be a daily connection from Ancona Airport to Jelsa, taking just 66 minutes, which compares favourably to the current option of 9-hour overnight ferry to Split and onward 2-hour ferry to Stari Grad on Hvar. "Initially we will connect Split Airport with Jelsa/Hvar at least four times daily. Jelsa will be connected directly with Ancona twice daily. The northern network will connect the destinations of Zadar (initially Airport), Rab, Pula, Zagreb Airport and Ancona. As soon as possible we will add further locations, such as Lastovo, Rijeka, Dubrovnik, Korcula, Mljet and many more. We are receiving frequent requests from authorities directly to fly to their locations and we will develop the locations accordingly." The initial schedule from Split Airport to Jelsa on Hvar will be four flights daily, a journey of just 13 minutes, costing under 40 euro. European Coastal Airlines The ECA booking system is due to go live imminently, but Digital Journal managed to obtain a sneak preview of the booking system, which shows, for example, four flights a day from Jelsa to Split Airport for less than 40 euro one way, including a 15 kg luggage allowance. The pretty Hvar resort town of Jelsa, which is set to receive the first modern scheduled hydroplane flight, thereby making European aviation history. European Coastal Airlines The decision to fly to Jelsa is the latest piece of good news for the pretty resort on Hvar which was once the top destination in former Yugoslavia. At its height in the 1980s, the town boasted four nightclubs (indeed this year is the With 66 inhabited inlands and poor ferry connections, the potential of ECA for Croatian tourism is huge European Coastal Airlines With year-round connections to Split Airport and other mainland destinations, as well as direct international flights to Italy, the partnership between Jelsa and European Coastal Airlines is one which benefits both sides, with the most important person - the visiting tourist - the obvious winner with increased choice and convenience. A true revolution in Croatian travel is a fortnight away, according to national media reports on July 26, 2014, as the hydroplane project of European Coastal Airlines is finally set for lift off after a 13-year battle with Croatian bureaucracy.Speaking to the national media close to the company headquarters at Resnik, near Split Airport, ECA CEO Captain Klaus Dieter Martin announced that the first flight would take place by the middle of August from Split Airport to the pretty resort town of Jelsa on Croatia's premier island of Hvar, with a journey time of just 13 minutes.Captain Martin was speaking against a backdrop of pontoons in the sea which will form the base of the sea port at Resnik, close to Split Airport, the first sign of physical construction for the ECA project in their ambitious planes to change the nature of Croatian island travel.Containers and pontoons for all the initial destinations have been locally sourced and ready for implementation, and the first works on the Jelsa station started this afternoon.Initial locations will include Pula, the island of Rab, Zagreb, Zadar Airport, Split Airport and Jelsa, as well as an international connection to Ancona. As one example of how life will change for tourists, there will be a daily connection from Ancona Airport to Jelsa, taking just 66 minutes, which compares favourably to the current option of 9-hour overnight ferry to Split and onward 2-hour ferry to Stari Grad on Hvar. Speaking to Digital Journal recently , Captain Martin explained plans to expand locations:"Initially we will connect Split Airport with Jelsa/Hvar at least four times daily. Jelsa will be connected directly with Ancona twice daily. The northern network will connect the destinations of Zadar (initially Airport), Rab, Pula, Zagreb Airport and Ancona. As soon as possible we will add further locations, such as Lastovo, Rijeka, Dubrovnik, Korcula, Mljet and many more. We are receiving frequent requests from authorities directly to fly to their locations and we will develop the locations accordingly."The ECA booking system is due to go live imminently, but Digital Journal managed to obtain a sneak preview of the booking system, which shows, for example, four flights a day from Jelsa to Split Airport for less than 40 euro one way, including a 15 kg luggage allowance.The decision to fly to Jelsa is the latest piece of good news for the pretty resort on Hvar which was once the top destination in former Yugoslavia. At its height in the 1980s, the town boasted four nightclubs (indeed this year is the 50th anniversary of the first disco club in former Yugoslavia - Amfora in Jelsa ), but the regional conflict and subsequent lack of investment in the town's hotels has led to a gradual decline in Jelsa's tourism fortunes. An upswing in the town's fortunes would seem to be imminent, however, with a new waterfront, works to make Jelsa more attractive as a sailing destination, and improvements on the Sucuraj road, connecting eastern Hvar for travellers to Dubrovnik.With year-round connections to Split Airport and other mainland destinations, as well as direct international flights to Italy, the partnership between Jelsa and European Coastal Airlines is one which benefits both sides, with the most important person - the visiting tourist - the obvious winner with increased choice and convenience. More about Croatia, hydroplanes croatia, jelsa, resnik, european coastal airlines More news from Croatia hydroplanes croatia jelsa resnik european coastal air...