Third ATR aircraft acquired by Maldivian due in Maldives this week

Island Aviation, the operator of the national airline, Maldivian, states the last of the three ATR aircrafts acquired by the company for the airline’s operation back in January 2022 is due to arrive in the Maldives next week.

Maldivian, in January 2022, acquired two ATR 72-600 and one ATR 42-600.

A total of MVR 925 million was incurred to purchase the three aircraft which will be paid through a loan.

Island Aviation’s Deputy Managing Director Aishath Jennifer told Sun that the last of ATR aircrafts has commenced its journey to the Maldives on Friday.

Jennifer said that the aircrafts would aid in improving the quality of services provided by Maldivian. She also noted that it would significantly cut down technical issues presently faced here and then.

“We can provide a much improved service. The issues arising sometimes in the old aircrafts will be solved. The increase in the number of aircraft in the fleet will make operations much easier,” she said.

Maldivian presently utilized Dash-8 aircrafts for its operations. The airline’s target is to build an ATR fleet to cease the use of Dash-8 aircrafts.

Island Aviation’s Managing Director Mohamed Mihad, in an earlier statement, the company’s aim is two purchase an additional three ATR aircrafts before the end of this year to increase Maldivian’s ATR fleet to six.