National airline and leading domestic carrier, Maldivian has expanded its fleet with the arrival of another ATR aircraft. The brand-new ATR42-600 aircraft landed at Velana International Airport yesterday afternoon.
The airline had also taken delivery of two ATR 72-600 series aircraft earlier this year. The order for the turboprop aircraft was placed in January 2022 at a reported cost of USD 60 million (MVR 925 million) which is being financed through a loan.
Highlights – Arrival of our brand new ATR42-600 aircraft. #Maldivian #ATR pic.twitter.com/TaLGtK15ar
— MaldivianAero (@MaldivianAero) April 2, 2023
The addition of these new aircraft is part of a fleet overhaul that will see the airline replace its ageing Dash8 fleet with ATRs over the next few years. The decision to switch to ATRs was made as the De Havilland Dash8s are no longer in production.
With its newest aircraft arrival, Maldivian boasts a total of six ATR aircraft in its fleet. The airline plans to add three more ATRs by the end of 2023, a move that will enhance the travel experience for its passengers.
This fleet expansion comes as Maldivian looks to grow its operations and offer greater connectivity to its customers. The airline currently operates scheduled services to 12 destinations in the Maldives and international destinations in South Asia and the Middle East. With the addition of more ATRs, Maldivian hopes to expand its network and improve its services to meet the demands of its growing customer base.
