Trans Maldivian Airways

Trans Maldivian Airways
IATA ICAO Callsign
TMW Trans Maldivian
Founded 1989 (as Hummingbird Island Helicopters)
Hubs

Ibrahim Nasir International Airport

Gan International Airport
Fleet size 44
Destinations 63
Company slogan Sun, Sand, Sea & Seaplane
Parent company Blackstone Group
Headquarters Velana International Airport
Malé, Maldives
Key people A. U. M. Fawzy (CEO)
Website http://www.transmaldivian.com/

Trans Maldivian Airways (Pvt) Ltd. (TMA) is a private airline headquartered on the grounds of Velana International Airport in Malé, Maldives.[1]

Operating out of Velana International Airport, TMA is the oldest air transfer operator operating in the country, providing seaplane transfer services to a large number of tourist resorts. TMA currently operates the world's largest seaplane fleet.[2] And as of 2016, December it operates out of Gan International Airport, servicing resorts in Addu, and Huvadhu Atoll.

History

Hummingbird Island

The airline was founded in 1989 as Hummingbird Island Helicopters by pilot Kit Chambers. The company operated a strictly helicopter fleet of aircraft, moving tourists from the airport to a select number of island resorts. 1993 saw the establishment of Maldivian Air Taxi, a direct competitor offering more-preferred seaplane transfers. In order to revive the market, the company was rebranded as Hummingbird Island Airways in 1997, introducing Twin Otter seaplanes to its fleet. By 1999, the fleet had transitioned out all helicopters, and had a seaplane-only lineup.

Trans Maldivian Airways

In the year 2000, Hummingbird Island was rebranded as Trans Maldivian Airways, under new management. In the next years, TMA acquired a fleet of 16 Twin Otter seaplanes, operating alongside Maldivian Air Taxi to provide transfer services to a growing number of tourist resorts in numerous atolls of the archipelago.

In 2006, TMA announced intentions to acquire 3 ATR 42 aircraft to begin operations to the domestic airports scattered in the atolls.[3] One of the ATR aircraft were brought to Male' in early 2007, and operations began to Gan in August.[4] In 2009, TMA announced that they were suspending all domestic operations due to losses, and the two ATR aircraft acquired were subsequently sold.[5]

2011 saw the first Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft brought to the TMA fleet, bringing the total fleet to 23.

Merger with Maldivian Air Taxi

Maldivian Air Taxi, established in 1993, was the sole competitor of TMA in the seaplane transfer industry. The company boasted the world's largest seaplane fleet. On February 4, 2013, the American equity fund Blackstone Group announced their buyout of the majority stake of both Trans Maldivian Airways and Maldivian Air Taxi, to form a new company with a combined fleet of 44 seaplanes, making it the largest seaplane fleet in the world by far.[2][6][7] The new company would retain the Trans Maldivian Airways brand name, with a new logo and livery integrating the colours of Maldivian Air Taxi.

The new merger company, with conjunction with the Maldives Transport Authority has proposed to launch seaplane services to inhabited islands in the atolls, in addition to the currently served resort islands.[6]

Destinations

TMA Terminal

TMA has seaplane transfer services for tourists to and from the following resort islands:[8]

Aircraft at Kuredu Resort.

Shaviyani Atoll

Noonu Atoll

Raa Atoll

Baa Atoll

Lhaviyani Atoll

Kaafu Atoll

TMA floatplane to the north of Bathala island

Alif Alif Atoll

Alif Dhaalu Atoll

Vaavu Atoll

Meemu Atoll

Faafu Atoll

Dhaalu Atoll

Haa Alif Atoll

Services

Services provided by the company includes:[9]

Fleet

A DHC-6 Twin Otter at Velana International Airport.

The Trans Maldivian Airways fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of August 2016):[10]

Trans Maldivian Airways Fleet
Aircraft In Service On Order Passengers Notes
De Havilland Canada DHC-6-100 Twin Otter 1 19
De Havilland Canada DHC-6-200 Twin Otter 1 19
De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter 39 19
Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 3 19+
Total 44

Incidents and accidents

As Trans Maldivian Airways[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Contact." Trans Maldivian Airways. Retrieved on April 21, 2015. "TRANS MALDIVIAN AIRWAYS (Pvt) Ltd. Ibrahim Nasir International Airport P.O. Box 2079 Male’ Republic of Maldives"
  2. 1 2 "Blackstone Press Release". Blackstone Announces Acquisition of a Majority Stake in Maldivian Air Taxi and Trans Maldivian Airways. 3 February 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  3. ↑ Saeed, Ahmed (7 October 2006). "TMA to acquire three 46-seat aircraft to fly to internal airports of Maldives. (Dhivehi)". Haveeru Online (in Divehi). Haveeru Daily. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  4. ↑ އެތެރޭގެ އުދުހުންތަކަށް ގެނައި ޓީއެމްއޭގެ ބޯޓް ޓެސްޓް ދަތުރެއްގައި ގަމަށް ޖައްސައިފި. Haveeru Online (in Divehi). Haveeru Online. 21 July 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  5. ↑ "TMA to sell two aircraft used for domestic aircraft. (Dhivehi)". Haveeru Online (in Divehi). 3 March 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Blackstone buys majority stake in two Maldives seaplane operators". Haveeru Online. 4 February 2013.
  7. ↑ "US private equity fund buys both Maldivian seaplane operators for undisclosed sum.". Minivan News. Minivan News. 4 February 2014.
  8. ↑ "Resorts". 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  9. ↑ http://www.transmaldivian.com Archived June 25, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ "Global Airline Guide 2016 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2016): 20.
  11. ↑ C.A.D Aircraft Accident History
  12. ↑ "Investigation Report of the Accident to DeHavilland DHC‐6 “TwinOtter” (8Q‐TMA) on 19 February 2001 at Sun Island Resort" (Archive). Civil Aviation Department, Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. Retrieved on April 21, 2015.
  13. ↑ "ACCIDENT REPORT ON 8Q-TMC (TWIN OTTER) COLLISION WITH SEAWALL At Male’ International Airport On 17th of May 2004" (Archive). Accident Investigation Coordinating Committee. Retrieved on April 21, 2015.
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