Trans Maldivian Airways to add ATR turboprops

Trans Maldivian Airways (TMW, Malé) is set to resume Avions de Transport Régional operations with plans to use the incoming turboprops to offer round-the-clock transfers to all of the resorts in the Maldives. The privately-owned carrier, which currently operates a fleet of fifty-six DHC-6 seaplanes across all variants, said that unlike its seaplane fleet whose hours of operations are restricted to daytime, the fixed-gear aircraft would allow it to operate at all hours. As such, the ATRs will be based out of the upcoming Madivaru Airport in Lhaviyani Atoll where a maintenance hangar will also be built. The press release did not disclose variants or timelines. According to the ch-aviation fleets history module, TMA used to operate two ATR42-300s between 2007/8 and 2010 on trunk inter-island routes. However, these were phased out after the airline experienced heavy losses. The airline said it would induct four more Twin Otter amphibians into its fleet during the third quarter of the year. The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows TMA operates one DHC-6-100, two -200s, fifty -300s, and three -400s on a network that spans the Maldivian archipelago. In terms of existing ATR operators in the Maldives, FlyMe (Maldives) (VP, Malé) operates one ATR42-500 (stored), two ATR72-500s, and one ATR72-600 while Manta Air (NR, Malé) operates three ATR72-600s.