Govt to award helicopter services contract next month

The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has selected an operator to introduce helicopter services in the Maldives, with the contract expected to be signed next month.

The ministry has been seeking an operator to provide commercial helicopter services as well as emergency medical evacuation and search and rescue operations. Since January, the project has been put out to tender on three occasions.

Speaking on Public Service Media (PSM) on Tuesday night, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen said the evaluation of bids had been completed and the agreement was being finalised.

"We expect to sign the agreement next month. Following that, the operator will proceed with securing their Air Operator Certificate (AOC) in compliance with Maldivian civil aviation regulations," Ameen said.

According to the ministry, the selected operator will be authorised to provide commercial passenger helicopter services while also carrying out emergency medical evacuations and search and rescue operations across the Maldives.

The operator will be granted exclusive rights to provide these services for 10 years.

Previous attempts to procure the service in August and December last year were cancelled without an operator being selected.