Hop on board a flight from the Caloosahatchee straight to Key West

FORT MYERS, Fla.- A seaplane company plans to offer plane rides from the Caloosahatchee River in downtown Fort Myers to Key West.

“Not only do you have the adventure aspect of flying in a seaplane, but you’re delivered right downtown,” said Jon Rector, owner of Salt Island Seaplane and a retired airline pilot who’s been flying for 15 years.

“Not only do you have the adventure aspect of flying in a seaplane, but you’re delivered right downtown,” said Rector.

Executive Director of the Community Redevelopment Agency, Don Paight, says the service fits into the ultimate goal for downtown Fort Myers.

“Anything that we can do to provide alternative transportation means, is whether it’s boats, water taxis, seaplanes. I think it’s a great alternative,” said Paight.

An alternative to commercial flights, the Key West Express or just driving, Rector says the trip will be a lot more convenient for customers, but some are concerned about the potential noise it’ll bring to downtown Fort Myers.

“That was the only issue we had with the previous seaplane service. On the landing and takeoff, they were a little bit noisy when the engine was revving up,” Paight said.

Others who live in the area don’t think it’ll be a problem, “because we have the helicopters going over all the time. We have the planes going over. It just becomes an every day thing,” said resident Mary Caise.

Rector says just skipping the TSA line alone makes it smooth sailing for his clients.

At $440 dollars, the seaplane will cost significantly more than the Key West Express, but it takes about an hour and 15 minutes to get there. Rector says the service should be regular next October.