Manta Air (NR, Malé) has begun scheduled seaplane services with its inaugural commercial flight taking place on November 17.

Using a dedicated seaplane terminal located at Malé, the Maldives' main international airport, the first scheduled flight lasted for 40 minutes and its destination was the Hotel Riu Atoll, south of the capital city.

For its seaplane service, Manta Air will publish monthly schedules — which the airline says is a first in the Maldives’ seaplane sector. Passengers will receive confirmed flight timings along with their hotel confirmation.

Referring to the airline's website, current seaplane routes are listed to the resorts of Anantara Kihavah, Kandima Maldives, and Niyama Private Villas, in addition to Hotel Riu Atoll.

“Our service is designed specifically with customers in mind, to relieve pain points and make domestic travel enjoyable and effortless," said Manta Air Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Khaleel on the seaplane service launch. "Our aim is to give the best of Manta Air’s hospitality to each and every customer who will be joining us on-board whilst they enjoy a spectacular view across the blue.”

According to the ch-aviation PRO airlines module, the carrier has a fleet of five DHC-6s (one -200 and four -300s) which were all inactive, however, some have recently been put into to service in preparation for the start of the scheduled seaplane flights.

On October 9, Manta Air received its first DHC-6-300, 8Q-RAD (msn 355), having been fitted with new avionics and weather radar. A day later, its second of the type, 8Q-RAC (msn 588), also was delivered to the Maldives.

In addition to the fledgling seaplane service, Manta Air operates three ATR72-600s on domestic sectors from Malé to Kudahuvadhoo in Dhaalu atoll, and Dharavandhoo in Baa atoll.

Other seaplane operators in the Indian Ocean archipelago include Trans Maldivian Airways (TMW, Malé) and Maldivian (Q2, Malé). FlyMe (Maldives) (Malé) has also signalled its own plans to add DHC-6-300 amphibians.