Maldivian Aero, the flag carrier of the Maldives, has confirmed the upcoming arrival of its latest addition to its fleet, an ATR aircraft, scheduled to land in the country this Wednesday.
This marks the first of two ATRs set to join Maldivian’s fleet, constituting the fourth addition of this model to the airline’s roster. According to the airline, the aircraft’s inaugural journey to the Maldives will commence from Toulouse, France, and last three days.
Exciting news! Our 4th ATR will arrive in 3 days, heading soon to Male' all the way from Toulouse. Proud of our Maldivian Team undertaking this important journey: Captains Mohamed Mubah & Ali Yanish, Engineer Ahmed Abdul Hakeem. #4thATR #Maldivian pic.twitter.com/A80n1S6Uk3
— MaldivianAero (@MaldivianAero) May 5, 2024
Described as “brand new” by Maldivian, the regional turboprop aircraft is designed to accommodate 42 passengers, contributing to a fleet expansion that will see the total number of aircraft reach 15, including Airbus A320s and Dash planes.
The first ATR aircraft was introduced in January 2023, boasting a capacity of 72 passengers. Subsequently, a second ATR model with a reduced capacity of 42 passengers was incorporated into the fleet.
ATR aircraft are primarily utilised by Maldivian for domestic flights, servicing short-haul routes among its 16 airport destinations within the Maldives.
Maldivian initiated its fleet expansion efforts last year, with plans extending beyond acquiring ATRs. Notably, the airline recently expressed its intention to lease a Boeing 787-8 aircraft with a capacity of 250 seats for six years. However, as the airline stated, the search for a suitable wide-body aircraft of this magnitude is still ongoing.
