Govt to reopen bids for helicopter services in Maldives

Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Ameen announced on Monday that the government will reopen the Request for Proposals (RFP) for parties interested in providing helicopter services in the Maldives.

The minister made the statement in response to a question regarding delays in launching the planned helicopter service, which was first announced in March last year.

Minister Ameen said a safety assessment had been conducted as part of preparations to establish the service. He emphasised the importance of developing helicopter operations in the Maldives, noting that such a service would support multiple sectors, including emergency response and medical evacuation.

According to the minister, the value of the existing seaplane sector in the Maldives has reached approximately one billion dollars, though the level of new investment has remained limited. He said that, in addition to tax revenue, the state should also pursue broader benefits through such services.

“We opened an expression of interest to provide free search and rescue and medical evacuation services in the interest of the state. Around 36 companies, including several major international firms, expressed interest,” Ameen said.

He added that the initial RFP process revealed limitations that prevented the state from securing the most beneficial combination of services. “The decision we had taken was too extensive to continue with only one party, so we decided to pause the RFP,” he said.

Minister Ameen confirmed that the RFP process had since been reviewed within the legal framework. “We plan to reopen the process later this year, incorporating changes based on lessons from the initial phase,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the helicopter service could be established within a year once the new RFP is launched. The opportunity for expressions of interest was first opened in August last year, following a Cabinet decision earlier that year to resume helicopter operations.

Helicopters were previously used in the Maldives, but the service was discontinued after a series of accidents.