Maldivian is the airline division of Island Aviation Services and is based in Malé, in the Maldives. It is the flag carrier airline of the Maldives. It operates international flights in addition to inter-island services. Its main base is Velana International Airport.[1]

Maldivian
IATA ICAO Call sign
Q2 DQA SKYSURFER
Founded2000
HubsVelana International Airport
Focus citiesDharavandhoo
Alliance
Fleet size25
Destinations19
Parent companyIsland Aviation Services (Maldivian state-owned corporation)
HeadquartersMalé
Employees4500+
Websitewww.maldivian.aero

History

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On 23 April 2009, the Government under a Presidential decree incorporated Island Aviation Services Limited as a limited liability company, one hundred percent owned by the Government of Maldives. The airline began operations with three aircraft; a Bombardier Dash 8 Q200; and 2 Dornier 228s and served only domestic airports within the Maldives. The airline commenced its international flights on 26 January 2008 with scheduled flights to Thiruvananthapuram, India. On 25 August 2008, the airline division of Island Aviation Services was re-branded as Maldivian.[2]

Flight Q27100, a Viking Air De Havilland DHC-6-200 aircraft with registration marks 8Q-IAG, suffered an accident during three failed take-off attempts at Nature’s Paradise Island at 0926 hours on 16 November 2017. The aircraft had 12 passengers and three crew members destined to Velana International Airport. The aircraft experienced substantial damage.[3]

Destinations

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Maldivian flies to the following destinations on scheduled Domestic and International service as of March 2023:[4]

Domestic and International Destinations
Country City Airport Notes Ref
  Bangladesh Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport
  UAE Dubai Dubai International Airport
  Pakistan lahore Allama Iqbal International Airport
  India Bangalore Kempegowda International Airport
Cochin Cochin International Airport
Trivandrum Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
  Maldives Malé Velana International Airport Hub
Gan Gan International Airport
Fuvahmulah Fuvahmulah Airport
Hanimaadhoo Hanimaadhoo International Airport
Kaadedhdhoo Kaadedhdhoo Airport
Kadhdhoo Kadhdhoo Airport
Kooddoo Kooddoo Airport
Thimarafushi Thimarafushi Airport
Ifuru Ifuru Airport
Kulhudhuffushi Kulhudhuffushi Airport
Maafaru Maafaru International Airport
Funadhoo Funadhoo Airport
Maavarulu Maavarulu Airport
Hoarafushi Hoarafushi Airport
Madivaru Madivaru Airport
Faresmathoda Faresmathoda Airport
Dharavandhoo Dharavandhoo Airport
Madivaru Madivaru Airport
  Sri Lanka Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport
Maldivian Seaplane Operating Destinations
Country Atoll Resort Notes Ref
Maldives Raa Atoll Kudafushi Island Resort
Baa Atoll Anathara Kihavahuravalhi
Baa Atoll Four Seasons Private Island
Baa Atoll Vakkaru Island Resort
Baa Atoll Hirundu Island Resort
Noonu Atoll Robinson Club Noonu
Dhaalu Atoll Niyaama Private Islands
Dhaalu Atoll Kandima Island Resort
Dhaalu Atoll Doores Island Retreat
Dhaalu Atoll Maagau Island Resort
Thaa Atoll Maalifushi Island Resort

Fleet

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Maldivian operates the following aircraft (as of September 2024)

 
Maldivian A320-200
Maldivian Fleet
Aircraft In Service On Order Passengers Remarks
Airbus A320-200 1 1 154 Delivery in 2024[5]
Airbus A320neo 3 130 Deliveries Expected Between 2026-2028
Airbus A321LR 1 206 Order Placed in 2022[6]
Airbus A330-200 1 264 Delivery in November 2024[7]
Airbus A350-1000 TBA TBA TBA Negotiations Expected 2025 December
ATR 42-600 2 3 46 Deliveries in 2024
ATR 42-600 HighLine Edition 1 20 Used For VIP
ATR 72-600 2 2 70 Delivery Estimated 2025
Boeing 787 1 TBA Delivery in 2024[8]
ATR 72-600F 1 Freighter Freighter Aircraft For Maldivian
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 300 11 15
de Havilland Canada Dash 8-200 2 37 One aircraft operated as an Air Ambulance[9]
de Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 7 50

Livery

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Former Livery used by the airlines (as Island Aviation)The first aircraft to have this livery was Maldivian’s A320-200.
 
Current livery in use since 2008.

The first livery used by the airline (as Island Aviation) featured a wave pattern along the bottom of the fuselage along with 2 dolphins and 2 tuna fish. The logo was placed in the center of the tail. Along with the re-branding of Maldivian, a new livery was introduced. The new livery saw the removal of the wave pattern to a plain white fuselage, and the addition of a blue wave, with one dolphin jumping out of the water on the tail of the aircraft.

Other services

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As of June ,2024, Island Aviation Services provide the following services at all public airports of the Maldives.[10]

  • Aircraft Engineering Services
  • Ground Control
  • Flight Operations
  • Aerodrome Operation
  • Refueling Services

Lounges

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Maldivian operates 3 lounges in Maldives; Moonimaa lounge at Malé and Kashimaa lounges at both Hanimaadhoo and Dharavandhoo airports.[11][12]

Maldivian Fly Cargo

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On September 23, 2024, Maldivian signed agreements to launch a dedicated air cargo service. The service will commence operations in January 2025 using ATR aircraft, which are well-suited for cargo transport across the Maldives and regional markets. This move is expected to enhance the nation's cargo infrastructure, with the airline playing a key role in expanding trade routes and improving goods transport

References

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  1. ^ "About Maldivian". www.maldivian.aero. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Maldivian – Our Company". Airline Route. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Final Accident Report" (PDF). CAA.
  4. ^ "Destinations Maldivian".
  5. ^ "Operating Lease of one Airbus A319ceo / A320ceo Aircraft". maldivian-aero. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  6. ^ "DRY LEASE OF ONE AIRBUS A321LR AIRCRAFT | Oct 2022". DRY LEASE OF ONE AIRBUS A321LR AIRCRAFT. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  7. ^ "President says Maldivian's wide-body aircraft's flights will commence in November". psmnews-mv. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  8. ^ "DRY LEASE OF ONE BOEING B787-8 AIRCRAFT". maldivian-aero. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Maldives launches its first National Air Ambulance Services". The Edition. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Island aviation, Maldivian".
  11. ^ "Lounge services".
  12. ^ "Inauguration of Kashimaa Lounge at Dharavandhoo Airport". Maldivian. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
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