My Google alerts picked this up. I haven't seen anything about it in the local press yet, but they don't start flying until February:

Destination Air Shuttle Takes off in Phuket, Thailand to Bring Better Access in the Andaman Sea

BANGKOK, Thailand-(Business Wire)-December 20, 2006 - Destination Air Shuttle, Thailand's only seaplane shuttle service, will officially launch services from Phuket International Airport beginning January 2007. Offering 12 flights per day, leaving every 2 hours from Phuket International Airport, Destination Air Shuttle will serve Phi Phi Island, Krabi and Koh Lanta. Further landing locations are planned for Similans, Koh Racha, and Khao Lak.

The web site for Destination Air is: http://www.destinationair.com

Self correction: Today's Nation newspaper picked up the same press release. Note that the release says they start in January but the web site says February, so who knows when it will really be.

Looks like it could be fun! Saw this a while back on www.phuketgazette.net and they had some brochures around in Phuket back in June but it seems the start was put off.
Will be great, not so sure that most people would be going from the airport, but I guess finding an area of available 'water' around Phuket closer to resort areas for such an operation would not be easy, hence going from the airport.
Back in the early 90's there were a couple of flying boats that were going to operate between Pattaya and Bangkok and then from Phuket, remember seeing one of the planes 'parked' at Phuket in the early 90's, the scheme 'never took off', but these guys seem to know what they are doing as they have done Seaplane services in Canada and Hawaii.

Looks like Cessna seaplanes though some expert may know exactly what they are.

I don't know how many though will pay THB 13,600 return though ( about USD 380 ).

Sounds maybe a dumb comment put it appears to be per passenger unless this is 'per plane' like I 'think' some air taxi operators work in places like Canada / Hawaii.

Interesting.

Perhaps some of the Hawaii or Canada posters can relate to those fares compared with local seaplane services.

I think that the idea of basing at the Phuket airport is that a lot of people want to go straight to Phi-Phi. I think the number of people who want to split their time between Phuket and Phi-Phi is rather small, but I don't really know.

I remember those old planes (Gruman I think) parked at the airport. I think they were used for charter to the Similans. The new planes are definitely Cessna, according to all the literature.

Where'd you get the price? Nothing I've read has had any indicator. Even the web site doesn't have pricing on it yet, except for day trips, whose price excludes airfare.

Go to the website and click on 'Flight fare' at the top

Return fares:
Krabi 15,000
Phi Phi 13,600
Koh Lanta 15,000
Ranong 19,500

When Air Andaman used 19 seaters Phuket to Krabi Airport it was something like 1,800-2,400, they pulled off quickly.

We have seaplane service in Seattle that flies to various of the San Juan Islands (about 100 miles away). The prices are per person, as it is "regular" service not charter service. The prices to PhiPhi ($380 RT) are higher than the prices here to fly to the San Juans.

The flight fare tab relates to day excursions. I have tried to follow it through to book for our visit in February. But it shows no availability. I have emailed to book our tranfers both ways. I have NOT cancelled our speedboat transfers. I will post the result of my efforts to try this service. I'm not convinced YET of the advantages of this means to arrive at Phi Phi. For me, it takes 45 minutes to the pier at Phuket and 45 minutes to Laem Tong Bay. I guess that the seaplane will land around the Tonsai Bay area and that would mean a further transfer by long tail, probably,or possibly making the transfer even longer. Mind you, arriving at Phi Phi by sea plane-----well, yes, must say that appeals to me!!!