The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has been opened for interested parties to operate helicopter services in the Maldives.
As per the announcement published in the Government Gazette, the transport ministry has invited interested parties to submit expressions of interest (EoI) to provide the helicopter services. The decision follows a Cabinet discussion on the introduction of helicopter flight services, with the announcement made on January 28.
In the announcement, the ministry plans to use helicopter services for emergency medical transport and to boost the tourism sector. It said that helicopters will facilitate patient transfers, aerial search and rescue operations, and expand the existing air ambulance service, which currently includes Dash-8 aircraft and seaplanes. It also said that a helicopter will be added to this fleet.
Additionally, the ministry said that helicopter service will support the tourism sector by transporting tourists across the country, with a contract period of 10 years. It also emphasised that helicopter operations must be environmentally sustainable and preserve the natural resources of the Maldives.
Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen has assured earlier that the service will adhere to the highest safety standards, utilising the safest twin-engine helicopters available. Helicopter services were previously available in the Maldives from the early 1990s until 1999 under the name Hummingbird. The service was discontinued due to tragic incidents.