The national carrier of the Maldives, Maldivian, is planning to double its fleet of ATRs by adding three more ATR turboprop aircraft. Maldivian had signed a contract with ATR in January 2022 for the purchase of two ATR 72-600 and one ATR 42-600, with new PW127XT engines. These aircraft are expected to join by the end of this year.
Maldivian has a fleet of one A321, one A320, eight De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Dash 8-300s, two Dash 8-200s, and 11 De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Twin Otters. While the turboprops are used for domestic routes, the A320 and A321 for used for international operations. As per the sources, most of the airline fleet is decades old and fast approaching their official decommission date.
The new ATRs will mostly replace the aging De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Dash 8-200 and Dash 8-300 aircraft.
As reported by The Edition, Maldivian’s Managing Director Mohamed Mihaad said: “Maldivian is expected to acquire three new ATRs in 2023 to compete more effectively against privately-owned airlines in the Maldives that operate newer aircraft.” Maldivian is acquiring the aircraft through a loan with an acquisition cost of around $60 million, he added.
Maldivian plans to return the A321 to the lessor when the lease expires in next year’s first quarter, but retain the A320 which has a lease until 2025, the airline said.
The airline in January issued a tender for the lease of two ATR 72-600s, but it is unclear if the airline has succeeded in securing the aircraft on lease.
The airline is also planning to announce a tender to acquire new long-haul planes for international operation before the end of September 2022 and is assessing the correct solution.
With direct flights between Maldives and China set to resume next month onwards, Maldivian expects to make the most of this opportunity for revenue generation.