Tunisavia (TAJ, Tunis) has ended in-house DHC-6-300 operations, having dry-leased out both of its aircraft of the type to Trans Maldivian Airways (TMW, Malé).
TS-LSF (msn 575) was ferried from Tunis to Malé over the course of September 8-12, 2023 with TS-LIB (msn 716) expected to follow in the coming days. Following the placement of both Twin Otters with TMA, Tunisavia will continue to provide charter services to the oil and gas sector using Eurocopter SA365 helicopters. The airline did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment regarding the duration of the dry-leases.
For its part, the Maldivian carrier has said it will fit both aircraft with floats to further expand what is already the world's largest Twin Otter fleet.
The ch-aviation fleets module shows TMA operates one DHC-6-100, two DHC-6-200s, fifty-six DHC-6-300s, and three DHC-6-400s. The airline is planning to expand its domestic network to Laamu and Gaafu Alifu in the southern part of the Maldives in October, in time for the 2023/24 peak season.