The Maldives’ national airline, Maldivian, has taken delivery of its first ATR 72-600 from the Franco-Italian regional aircraft manufacturer, ATR. This comes as part of the wider order from the airline for two ATR 72-600s and one ATR 42-600 signed back in January 2022.
These newer turboprops will likely replace, or at least supplement, the carrier’s eight De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300s and two -200s, which have an average life of 23.5 years in comparison to the five-and-a-half-year average of the ATRs, in a bid to modernise Maldivian’s fleet.
ATR Chief Executive Officer Nathalie Tarnaud Laude said that the ATR has a “proven track record in terms of connecting islands affordably and sustainably in many regions of the world” and that it would continue to support Maldivian with its sustainable development in the coming years.
Mohamed Mihad, Managing Director of Maldivian, commented: “Operating in an environment like the Maldives is a matter of offering quick access to essential services to local communities, contributing to the archipelago’s economic development, boosting tourism – and all of this with sustainability at heart.” He added that the ATR aircraft would let the airline’s passengers experience the “best of both worlds” with the comfort of air travel coupled with its lowest emission rate.
