Maldives flagship carrier Maldivian has announced plans to add two more aircrafts to its fleet in a bid to expand its domestic operations.
Abdul Haris, Managing Director of parent company Island Aviation Services (IAS), told local media that a 50 seater Dash 8-300 aircraft would arrive in the Maldives by mid-November. Another two Dash 8 aircrafts would enter into service next year, he added.
“More domestic airports are opening. More hotels and resorts are coming up,” Haris said.
Maldivian currently operates a fleet of two Dash 8-200 series aircrafts, seven Dash 8-300 series aircrafts, and an Airbus 320 and another Airbus 321 aircraft. The Dash 8 aircrafts are primarily used for domestic operations while the two Airbus aircrafts serve the airline’s international routes.
The state-owned airline operates flights to all the 10 domestic airports across the Maldives, and runs international operations to South Asian neighbours India and Bangladesh, and far Eastern countries such as Thailand and China.
The recent fleet expansion by the Maldives’ flagship carrier is in line with its plans to boost operations to major tourist markets such as Europe, South Africa and neighbouring Sri Lanka.
Maldivian has also expanded into seaplane operations. The airline has an all amphibian fleet of nine DHC-6 Twin Otter aircrafts for its seaplane operations, and has recently announced a major expansion.
Seaplane is the preferred mode of transport between the main Velana International Airport and dozens of resorts, especially those located in the outer atolls.