The government will sign an agreement with an operator next month to reintroduce helicopter services in the Maldives, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen has announced.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with state media PSM News, the Minister stated that the evaluation of proposals submitted by interested parties has now been completed. He noted that following the signing of the agreement next month, work will begin to obtain the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) under Maldivian civil aviation regulations.
Highlighting the need for changes in the Maldives' transport network, the Minister pointed out that tourists face significant difficulties because the seaplanes currently in use cannot operate at night. Therefore, establishing a system that can transport tourists day and night, under any weather conditions, is a key objective for the government.
In addition to passenger transfers, the service is designed to cover medical evacuations and search and rescue operations for maritime incidents.
Under the guidelines set by the Ministry, the chosen operator must provide 50 hours of medical evacuation services free of charge every month for the first three years of operation. However, the government will pay for search and rescue operations.
The government has decided to issue permits to the selected operators for a maximum period of 10 years. With the target of officially launching the helicopter service by November 1, 2027, at the latest, the government assured that aviation safety standards will be strictly maintained throughout the process.
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