Trans Maldivian Airways

Trans Maldivian Airways
IATA ICAO Callsign
M8 TMW Trans Maldivian
Founded 1989 (as Hummingbird Island Helicopters)
Hubs

Velana International Airport

Gan International Airport
Fleet size 46
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]

Trans Maldivian Airways Aircraft Livery

Shaviyani Atoll

  • Vagaru (Viceroy Maldives)

Noonu Atoll

  • Kudafunafaru (Zitahli Resort And Spa Kudafunafaru)
  • Iru Fushi (The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi)
  • Medhufaru ( Soneva Jani )
  • Fushivelaavaru (Velaa Private Island)
  • Randheli (Cheval Blanc Randheli)

Raa Atoll

  • Meedhupparu (Adaaran Select Medhupparu)
  • Dhigali (Dhigali Maldives)
  • Furaveri (Furaveri Island Resort)

Baa Atoll

  • Dhunikolhu (Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu)
  • Fonimagoodhoo (Reethi Beach Resort)
  • Kunfunadhoo (Soneva Fushi)
  • Landaa Giraavaru (Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru)
  • Mudhdhoo (Dusit Thani Maldives)
  • Milaidhoo (Milaidhoo)

Lhaviyani Atoll

  • Kanifushi (Atmosphere Kanifushi)
  • Kanuhura (Kanuhura)
  • Kuredhdhoo (Kuredu Resort)
  • Komandoo (Komandoo Maldives Island Resort)
  • Madhiriguraidhoo (Palm Beach Resort and Spa Maldives)
  • Huruvalhi (Hurawalhi Maldives Resort)

Kaafu Atoll

  • Biyadhoo (Biyadhoo Island Resort)
  • Helengeli (Helengeli Island Resort)
  • Kuda Huraa (Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa)
  • Medhufinolhu (One & Only Reethi Rah)
  • Meerufenfushi (Meeru Island Resort and Spa)
  • Veligandu Huraa (Naladhu Maldives)
  • Ziyaaraifushi (Summer Island Village)
TMA floatplane to the north of Bathala island

Alif Alif Atoll

  • Bathala (Bathala Island Resort)
  • Ellaidhoo (Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo)
  • Ethere Madivaru
  • Fesdu (W Retreat and Spa - Maldives)
  • Gangehi (Gangehi Island Resort)
  • Halaveli (Constance Halaveli)
  • Kandholhudhoo (Kandholhu Island)
  • Kudafolhudhoo (Nika Island Resort)
  • Kuramathi (Kuramathi Island Resort)
  • Maayafushi (VOI Maayafushi Resort)
  • Madoogali (Madoogali - The Maldives)
  • Mushimasgali (Safari Island Resort and Spa)
  • Velidhoo (Velidhu Island Resort)
  • Veligandu (Veligandu Island Resort and Spa)

Alif Dhaalu Atoll

  • Angaga (Angaga Island Resort and Spa)
  • Athuruga (Diamonds Athuruga)
  • Dhidhdhoofinolhu (LUX* Maldives)
  • Huvahendhoo (Lily Beach Resort and Spa)
  • Kudarah (Kudarah Island Resort)
  • Maafushivaru (Maafushivaru)
  • Machchafushi (Centara Grand Island Resort and Spa Maldives)
  • Mirihi (Mirihi Island Resort)
  • Moofushi (Constance Moofushi)[9]
  • Rangali (Conrad Maldives Rangali Island)
  • Thudufushi (Diamonds Thudufushi)
  • Vakarufalhi (Vakarufalhi Island Resort)
  • Vilamendhoo (Vilamendhoo Island Resort and Spa)
  • Vilingilivaru (Ranveli Village)

Vaavu Atoll

  • Alimatha (Alimatha Aquatic Resort)
  • Dhiggiri (VOI Dhiggiri Resort)

Meemu Atoll

  • Medhufushi (Medhufushi Island Resort)
  • Hakuraa Huraa (Chaaya Lagoon Hakuraa Huraa)

Faafu Atoll

  • Filitheyo (Filitheyo Island Resort)
  • Maafushi (The Rania Experience)

Dhaalu Atoll

  • Meedhuffushi (Vilu Reef Beach and Spa Resort)
  • Velavaru (Angsana Velavaru Resort)

Haa Alif Atoll

  • Dhonakuli (Hideaway Beach Resort and Spa)
  • Manafaru ( JA Resort Manafaru )

Services

Services provided by the company includes:[10]

  • Scenic flights
  • Resort transfers
  • Picnic flights
  • Aircraft charter
  • Domestic air services

Fleet

A DHC-6 Twin Otter at Velana International Airport.

The Trans Maldivian Airways fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of August 2017):[11]

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 41 19
Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 3 19+
Total 46

Incidents and accidents

As Trans Maldivian Airways[12]

  • On 19 February 2001, a De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 100 (8Q-TMA) collided with a De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 300 (8Q-TMH) while landing at Holiday Island Resort. No one was injured.[13]
  • On 17 May 2004, a De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 300 collided with the sea-wall of runway 18 at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport after experiencing problems taking off from the seaplane base at Hulhule, adjacent to the international airport. Both pilots and one passenger were seriously injured in the accident.[14] The aircraft, SN 434, was written off. Subsequently, SN 434 was rebuilt by Viking Air Limited to serve as the technical demonstrator (proof of concept) aircraft for Series 400 Twin Otter development. It flew again as a Series 400 prototype in the fall of 2008, and is currently registered as C-FDHT.
  • On 27 May 2017, a De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 100 (8Q-TMV) landed on Male's sea plane port at 08:33L (03:33Z) but tipped over to the left and came to a stop partly submerged with the nose and left wing tip below the water surface. [15]
  • On 4 October 2017, a De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 100 (8Q-ISB) impacted the waters hard at the Sea Port in Male and flipped over. The aircraft became submerged with just the floats remaining above water but the occupants were able to evacuate the aircraft in time.[16]
  • On 16 November 2017, a De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 100 (8Q-IAQ) collided with an object in water during takeoff causing the aircraft to nearly keel over coming to a stop partially submerged with the cockpit under the water level. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained substantial damage.[17]

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. ↑ "Constance Moofushi". Paltino Resorts. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  10. ↑ http://www.transmaldivian.com Archived June 25, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑ "Global Airline Guide 2017 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2017): 20. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  12. ↑ C.A.D Aircraft Accident History
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ http://avherald.com/h?article=4a996971&opt=0
  16. ↑ http://avherald.com/h?article=4af42224&opt=0
  17. ↑ http://avherald.com/h?article=4b11b2de&opt=0
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