On May 8, 2024. Maldivian, the flag carrier of the Maldives, welcomed the arrival of its fourth ATR 42-600 aircraft.
The milestone was commemorated by a special ceremony at Valena International Airport (MLE) in Male attended by airline and government officials, along with key partners.
A team of crew from the state-owned carrier embarked on a long journey to pick up the aircraft.
Airline crew first arrived in Toulouse, then flew the aircraft to Heraklion International Airport (HER) in Crete, then to Hurghada International Airport (HRG) in Egypt. From Egypt, the crew flew the ATR 42-600 to Muscat International Airport (MCT), before finally flying to its last stop in Male.
Maldivian’s Managing Director, Ibrahim Iyas, said in a statement: “We have made great strides toward achieving both operational excellence and a greater passenger experience with the addition of this brand-new ATR aircraft to our fleet. This aircraft offers an unprecedented level of comfort thanks to improved interior humidity control and much lower noise levels.”
“Modern avionics and exceptional fuel economy which further supports our dedication to sustainability while maximizing performance throughout our expanding network. We are pleased to welcome this cutting-edge aircraft and are optimistic that it will improve connectivity and reliability of our service across the Maldives,” Iyas added.
The Male-based carrier now has a total of 25 aircraft in its fleet, including the new ATR 42-600, which has been registered as 8Q-IAW. The airline’s fleet includes an Airbus A320 aircraft, four ATR aircraft, nine Dash-8 series aircraft and 11 Twin Otter seaplanes.