Maldivian (Q2, Malé) is planning to add two more aircraft for use in launching flights to upcoming airports in the Indian Ocean archipelago, the Managing Director of parent company Island Aviation Services told a state-owned Enterprises parliamentary committee.
According to the Maldives Business Review, Mohamed Rizvy identified four airports that are due to open shortly in the Maldives and without new aircraft, Maldivian will lack the capacity needed to serve them.
Rizvy did not elaborate on the aircraft type(s) the carrier is planning to add. The airline did not respond to ch-aviation's request for clarification.
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, Maldivian currently operates 23 aircraft, including eleven DHC-6-300s seaplanes, one A320-200, one A321-200, two Dash 8-200s, and eight Dash 8-300s. It serves ten airports in the Maldives, all of them using the Dash 8s.
In May, the Maldivian government announced plans to open airports in Kulhudhuffushi in Haa Dhaal atoll, Funadhoo in Shaviyani atoll, and Maafaru in Noonu atoll by the end of August. Airports in Madivaru in Lhaviyani atoll and Maavarulu in Gaaf Dhaal atoll are due to open later this year.
