Manta Air (NR, Malé) is a Maldivian start-up planning to commence flight operations in October this year using a fleet of ATR - Avions de Transport Régional (EVX, Toulouse Blagnac) turboprops.
An airline official told the Maldives Insoder newspaper that Manta Air was backed by Reollo Investments, which runs the recently opened Kandima Maldives resort as well as Dhaalu Airport. Reollo is itself led by Sanjay Ibrahim Maniku, son of local conglomerate Universal Enterprise’s shareholder Dr Ibrahim Maniku.
In terms of operations, the start-up will begin with four seaplanes and three ATR72-600s offering regular flights from Malé to Kudahuvadhoo in Dhaalu atoll, Ifuru in Raa atoll, Dharavandhoo Island in Baa atoll, and Thimarafushi in Thaa atoll.
“Our fleet will arrive in the Maldives by September. We are hoping to begin operations in October, in time for the peak tourist season,” the official said.
