Second seaplane ready for action in Tasmanian skies as TAA passenger numbers soar

BUSINESS is booming for Hobart's scenic seaplane, with support doubling over the past year.

BUSINESS is booming for Hobart's scenic seaplane, with support from both locals and tourists doubling over the past year.

Tasmanian Air Adventures (TAA), which started in 2011, has purchased a second seaplane to help keep up with demand.

"The new aircraft will enable TAA to carry larger groups and increases TAA's capability to fly customers to regional areas for reduced rates," TAA operations director Tim Robertson said.

"Customers can travel to destinations such as Strahan, Port Arthur and the South West to explore these areas, partake in local tours and then return on the same flight."

TAA is based at Kings Pier Marina and originally only offered scenic tours to Port Arthur but the business has quickly expanded to cover the whole state.

Marketing and sales manager Will Barbour said passenger numbers for each month of last year were about double 2012 levels.

He said the flights were especially popular with overseas visitors, but support from locals had been key to the company's growth.

"A lot of locals buy gift certificates," Mr Barbour said.

"The South West Wilderness is one part of Tasmania that Tasmanians really want to get to."

He said it was essential for tourism operators to provide a consistent level of excellence in product and service because word of mouth and social media reviews were vital to success.

Mr Robertson said the new plane was a 1961 DeHavilland Beaver -- the most widely used commercial seaplane in the world -- and would be a point of interest for aviation enthusiasts.