Maldivian to lease 5 more ATR aircraft
The move to shift to an ATR fleet came after the Dash-8s, which are currently in use in its operations, grew too old and difficult to maintain.
Maldivian on Sunday invited proposal to lease five more ATR aircraft, as the national carrier looks to modernise its ageing fleet.
According to a notification issued by Island Aviation Service (IAS), which operates Maldivian airline, the airline is looking to lease five ATR 42-600 aircraft that are new or used.
These five planes are being leased for a period of six to 12 years:
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Maldivian wants three planes under operating leases; it wants to bring these planes to the Maldives by the end of this year and next year
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One plane is needed under a sale and lease back (SLB) agreement, with expected delivery in the last quarter of this year
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The fifth is required under a finance lease agreement with expected delivery in early 2025
The proposals can be submitted till May 4. Based on the proposals, the best three will be selected and informed on May 21.
In January 2021, an agreement was signed to replace the Dash-8 planes currently used by Maldivian with three ATR planes.
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Two new ATR-72 aircraft were brought to Maldives in January and are being used for operations
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A new ATR-42 aircraft was brought to the Maldives late last month and entered service on April 8
The move to change the fleet to ATR came after the Dash-8s, which are currently in use in its operations, grew too old and difficult to maintain.
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Maldivian has announced that it is looking for buyers, to sell the nine planes in its Dash-8 fleet over the next two years
Maldives has also announced to lease two Airbus A330-200 aircraft for long-haul journeys. The airline is also planning to bring in an Airbus A321 LR aircraft.
