Maldivian conducts seaplane test flight to Thaa Atoll

Maldivian has today landed a seaplane near Maalifushi by COMO, a tourist resort in Thaa Atoll.

Abdul Haris, Managing Director of Island Aviation Services told Sun Online that the trip was part of preliminary test flights to gauge fuel consumption and other factors, ahead of launching a full operations this month.

“This is not an official trip. This trip was conducted to test and finalize certain things. Ticketing and other arrangements will be made, and official trips will begin soon,” said Abdul Haris.

The national carrier brought its first DHC6 Twin Otter Aircraft in April and a second plane of the same model in June. Maldivian expects delivery of three additional aircrafts by in September this year.

Competition in the local seaplane market has been non-existent since the only two seaplane companies Maldivian Air Taxi (MAT) and Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) were acquired and merged by New York’s Blackstone Group. Seaplanes are the main mode of transportation between Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) and tourist resorts away from the central atoll.

Due to the geographical dispersion of the atolls, providing accessibility through a systematic means of transportation within the atolls and between the capital Male’ has been a costly and challenging task for Maldivian government.

Maldivian, which already flies to domestic airports across the country, commenced efforts to provide a seaplane service in October 2013 and assures that the seaplane opeartion will be open to local customers.