Maldivian Expands ATR Fleet with Order for Two Additional Aircraft

Maldivian has placed an order for two additional ATR aircraft as part of its fleet renewal and expansion programme, Managing Director Ibrahim Iyas said, advancing the airline’s ongoing effort to replace its Dash-8 aircraft with newer ATR models.

Speaking on a special programme broadcast by PSM News on the work of state-owned companies, Iyas said the airline launched its fleet replacement initiative in 2022 to phase out its Dash-8 aircraft and transition to an ATR fleet.

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According to Iyas, one of the newly ordered ATR aircraft is expected to arrive in the Maldives later this year, while the second is scheduled for delivery late next year. He said the addition of the aircraft would significantly advance the airline’s fleet modernisation programme.

Iyas noted that the Dash-8 aircraft currently operated by Maldivian have been used in domestic operations since 2008 and are now more than 25 years old. He said maintaining the ageing aircraft has become increasingly costly, particularly as production of the aircraft model ceased around 2009 or 2010.

He said these factors led the airline to adopt ATR aircraft as replacements and revealed that Maldivian has already added five ATR aircraft to its fleet. He also highlighted that the most recent ATR acquired by the airline was a brand-new aircraft, marking the first time Island Aviation has purchased a new aircraft directly rather than acquiring a used one.

Maldivian currently operates a fleet of 27 aircraft, comprising one Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft, one Airbus A320 narrow-body aircraft, five ATR aircraft, nine Dash-8 aircraft and 11 Dash-6 Twin Otter aircraft.

The fleet expansion forms part of broader government plans to strengthen Maldivian’s domestic and international operations. The government has also announced plans to acquire an additional wide-body aircraft for the national carrier in line with a pledge by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to expand the airline’s international network.

Island Aviation is currently working to bring the additional wide-body aircraft into service later this year.