Two ATR72-600s going to Maldivian (Q2, Malé) have finally been ferried to Malé after delays at ATR - Avions de Transport Régional (ATR) saw the airline bring in a leased aircraft at short notice in order to meet its busy holiday season schedule. The two aircraft form part of a three-plane deal with ATR that will also see Maldivian receive one ATR42-600.

The deliveries were announced prior to Christmas but 8Q-IAY (msn 1654) and 8Q-IAZ (msn1655) remained in Toulouse Blagnac until January 2, 2023, before they commenced their ferry flights to Malé's Velana International Airport via Irakleion, Hurghada, and Muscat. The two aircraft landed at Malé on January 4.

The 70-passenger brand-new aircraft will complement Maldivian's current fleet of one A320-200, two DHC-8-200s, eight DHC-8-300s, and eleven DHC-6-300 Twin Otters. Maldivian had also temporarily leased an ATR72-600 from Swiftair (WT, Madrid Barajas) to cover capacity shortfalls owing to ATR delivery delays. The two ATRs were originally due to arrive at Maldivian in October 2022 but production issues at ATR saw that date pushed back.

Malé-based media report that Maldivian paid MVR925 million rufiyaas (USD60 million) to buy the three aircraft. ch-aviation fleets data confirms that the airline does own the first two ATRs. Maldivian reportedly secured a loan to pay for the planes after earlier expressing an interest in a sale and lease-back arrangement. The airline's managing director, Mohamed Mihad, says he hopes to acquire a further three ATRs by the end of 2023, taking the airline's total ATR fleet to six.