Seaplane vs. Helicopter to the East End

For most of the past decade the East End had two distinct air options out of Manhattan: the helicopter and the East River seaplane. As of the 2026 season the landscape has consolidated, but the underlying distinction between the two aircraft types remains useful for understanding what each kind of flight offers and where it can take a traveler.

A note on who flies the seaplane now

The seaplane many travelers remember from recent summers was operated by Tailwind Air, which ran amphibious Cessna Caravans from the East River to the Hamptons and on routes toward New England. Tailwind Air ceased operations in January 2026 and filed for bankruptcy protection, so it should not be treated as a currently running scheduled service.

Today the scheduled East River seaplane to the Hamptons is operated by BLADE, under its amphibious Cessna 208 service branded BLADEaqua, alongside the company’s helicopter program. Shoreline Aviation remains a separate seaplane charter operator for travelers arranging a private aircraft rather than booking a scheduled seat. The comparison below is therefore between two aircraft types rather than two competing scheduled brands, since the same operator now runs both.

Where each one departs and lands

The most practical difference between the two is geography at each end of the trip.

Departure points

The helicopter departs from Manhattan heliports, including West 30th Street and a downtown heliport. The seaplane departs from the BLADE Aqua Lounge on the East River at East 23rd Street, taxiing out onto the water before takeoff. For a traveler, the right choice often comes down to which Manhattan departure point is easier to reach from where the day begins.

Landing zones

Both aircraft reach the principal Hamptons destinations, with landing zones serving Southampton, Sag Harbor, East Hampton, and Montauk. The helicopter sets down at fixed heliports and landing areas; the seaplane, being amphibious, lands on water and can also use hard runways. The flight time for either is broadly similar, in the range of 35 to 40 minutes, so neither holds a decisive speed advantage over the other.

Weather and reliability

This is where the two aircraft diverge most. Both are small aircraft and both are sensitive to weather, but the seaplane’s water operations add an extra dimension of exposure.

Helicopters can be delayed or rerouted by fog, low cloud, and high wind. The seaplane is subject to those same conditions and, additionally, to the state of the water at takeoff and landing: surface conditions, wind across the water, and visibility over the river all bear on whether a water departure proceeds as scheduled. In settled summer weather neither is likely to trouble a traveler; in marginal conditions, the seaplane has the narrower operating envelope. A traveler who cannot afford a delay should weigh this when choosing between the two on an uncertain day.

Cost

On price the two aircraft sit close together, because the operator prices seats by destination rather than by aircraft. By-the-seat fares run about $595 per seat to Southampton and roughly $795 per seat to the other Hamptons landing zones, with the figure driven by where the traveler is going rather than whether the seat is on a helicopter or a seaplane. A Summer Pass, which for the 2026 season runs about $3,150 up front and then holds the $795 per-seat fare, covers scheduled flights across the summer, and charter of a whole aircraft starts near $1,875.

As with any air leg, the seat fare generally covers the flight between Manhattan and the Hamptons landing zone, with the final ground leg to a specific address arranged separately. The scheduled season for both runs roughly from late May to early September.

The experience itself

The two flights feel different even when they cost the same. The helicopter is a direct point-to-point hop with a steady view of the South Shore and a landing at a fixed pad. The seaplane adds a water taxi at each end, the distinctive sensation of a water takeoff and landing, and an approach that, on a calm evening, many travelers find to be the more memorable of the two. Neither is objectively better; the choice tends to follow a traveler’s tolerance for a slightly longer shoulder routine at the water’s edge against the appeal of the takeoff itself.

A practical reading

For a traveler choosing between the two on the 2026 schedule, the decision rarely turns on speed or headline price, since both are similar. It turns on three smaller things: which Manhattan departure point is more convenient, how much weather margin the day requires, and whether the water takeoff is a draw or a complication. The East River lounge at East 23rd Street suits some itineraries; the West 30th Street and downtown heliports suit others. On a settled summer day the choice is largely a matter of preference; on a marginal one, the helicopter’s wider weather envelope is the more conservative pick.

Frequently asked questions

Is the seaplane to the Hamptons still running in 2026?

Yes, but not under the operator many travelers remember. Tailwind Air, which ran the East River seaplane in recent years, ceased operations in January 2026. The scheduled East River seaplane to the Hamptons is now operated by BLADE under its amphibious Cessna 208 service, BLADEaqua. Shoreline Aviation is a separate seaplane charter operator.

Does the seaplane or the helicopter get there faster?

Neither holds a meaningful speed advantage. Both cover the Manhattan-to-Hamptons run in roughly 35 to 40 minutes of flight time. The practical difference lies in departure point, weather tolerance, and the experience rather than in elapsed flight time.

Which is more affected by weather?

The seaplane has the narrower operating envelope. Both aircraft are sensitive to fog, wind, and low cloud, but the seaplane’s water takeoff and landing add further dependence on surface conditions and visibility over the river. In settled summer weather the difference is small; in marginal conditions the helicopter is the more reliable choice.

Do they cost the same?

Roughly, yes. Fares are priced by destination rather than aircraft, at about $595 per seat to Southampton and around $795 per seat to other Hamptons landing zones. A Summer Pass runs about $3,150 up front for the 2026 season plus the $795 per-seat fare, and the seat fare typically excludes the final ground car leg to a specific address.