Trans Maldivian Airways Explained

Airline:Trans Maldivian Airways
Fleet Size:62
Destinations:79
Iata:-
Icao:TMW
Callsign:Trans Maldivian
Parent:Carlyle
Founded:1989 (as Hummingbird Island Helicopters)
Headquarters:Velana International Airport
Malé, Maldives
Key People:A. U. M. Fawzy (CEO)
Hubs:Velana International Airport
Gan International Airport
Website:http://www.transmaldivian.com/

Trans Maldivian Airways (Pvt) Ltd. (TMA) is a private airline headquartered on the grounds of Velana International Airport in Malé, Maldives.[1]

Operating out of Velana International Airport, TMA is the oldest air transfer operator operating in the country, providing seaplane transfer services to a large number of tourist resorts. TMA in 2013 operated the world's largest seaplane fleet.[2] And as of 2016, December it operates out of Gan International Airport, servicing resorts in Addu, and Huvadhu Atoll.

History

Hummingbird Island Airways

The airline was founded in 1989 as Hummingbird Island Helicopters by pilot Kit Chambers. The company operated a strictly helicopter fleet of aircraft, moving tourists from the airport to a select number of island resorts. 1993 saw the establishment of Maldivian Air Taxi, a direct competitor offering more-preferred seaplane transfers. In order to revive the market, the company was rebranded as Hummingbird Island Airways in 1997, introducing Twin Otter seaplanes to its fleet. By 1999, the fleet had transitioned out all helicopters and had a seaplane-only lineup.

Trans Maldivian Airways

In the year 2000, Hummingbird Island was rebranded as Trans Maldivian Airways, under new management. In the next years, TMA acquired a fleet of 16 Twin Otter seaplanes, operating alongside Maldivian Air Taxi to provide transfer services to a growing number of tourist resorts in numerous atolls of the archipelago.

In 2006, TMA announced intentions to acquire 3 ATR 42 aircraft to begin operations to the domestic airports scattered in the atolls.[3] One of the ATR aircraft were brought to Male' in early 2007, and operations began to Gan in August.[4] In 2009, TMA announced that they were suspending all domestic operations due to losses, and the two ATR aircraft acquired were subsequently sold.[5]

2011 saw the first Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft brought to the TMA fleet, bringing the total fleet to 23.

Merger with Maldivian Air Taxi

See main article: Maldivian Air Taxi.

Maldivian Air Taxi, established in 1993, was the sole competitor of TMA in the seaplane transfer industry. The company boasted the world's largest seaplane fleet. On February 4, 2013, the American equity fund Blackstone Group announced their buyout of the majority stake of both Trans Maldivian Airways and Maldivian Air Taxi, to form a new company with a combined fleet of 44 seaplanes, making it the largest seaplane fleet in the world by far.[6] [7] The new company would retain the Trans Maldivian Airways brand name, with a new logo and livery integrating the colours of Maldivian Air Taxi.

The new merger company, with conjunction with the Maldives Transport Authority, has proposed to launch seaplane services to inhabited islands in the atolls, in addition to the currently served resort islands.

Sold to Bain Capital

On December 18, 2017  - Bain Capital Private Equity announced that it has formed a consortium to acquire Trans Maldivian Airways ("TMA"), the world’s largest seaplane operator headquartered in the Maldives, from Blackstone Group. The Bain Capital-led consortium includes Shenzhen Tempus Global Business Services Holdings Ltd ("Tempus Global") (300178) and TBRJ Fund 1 L.P. Bain Capital, which is headquartered in the US, will own approximately 80% of TMA.[8]

Destinations

TMA has seaplane transfer services for tourists to and from the following resort islands:[9]

Haa Alif Atoll

Shaviyani Atoll

Noonu Atoll

Raa Atoll

Baa Atoll

Lhaviyani Atoll

Kaafu Atoll

Alif Alif Atoll

Alif Dhaalu Atoll

Vaavu Atoll

Meemu Atoll

Faafu Atoll

Dhaalu Atoll

Services

Services provided by the company include:[10]

Fleet

The Trans Maldivian Airways fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of August 2019):[11] [12]

Trans Maldivian Airways fleet
AircraftIn serviceOn orderPassengersNotes
DHC-6-100 Twin Otter115
DHC-6-200 Twin Otter215
DHC-6-300 Twin Otter4815
Viking Air DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400315
Total54

Incidents and accidents

As Trans Maldivian Airways the company suffered the following accidents:[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. "Contact." Trans Maldivian Airways. Retrieved on April 21, 2015. "TRANS MALDIVIAN AIRWAYS (Pvt) Ltd. Ibrahim Nasir International Airport P.O. Box 2079 Male’ Republic of Maldives"
  2. Web site: Blackstone Press Release. 3 February 2013. 11 December 2014. Blackstone Announces Acquisition of a Majority Stake in Maldivian Air Taxi and Trans Maldivian Airways.
  3. Web site: TMA to acquire three 46-seat aircraft to fly to internal airports of Maldives. (Dhivehi). 7 October 2006. 11 December 2014. Haveeru Online. Haveeru Daily. Saeed. Ahmed. Divehi.
  4. Web site: http://www.haveeru.com.mv/dhivehi/news/49706. dv:އެތެރޭގެ އުދުހުންތަކަށް ގެނައި ޓީއެމްއޭގެ ބޯޓް ޓެސްޓް ދަތުރެއްގައި ގަމަށް ޖައްސައިފި. 21 July 2007. 11 December 2014. Haveeru Online. Divehi.
  5. Web site: TMA to sell two aircraft used for domestic aircraft. (Dhivehi). 3 March 2009. 11 December 2014. Haveeru Online. Divehi.
  6. Web site: Blackstone buys majority stake in two Maldives seaplane operators. 4 February 2013. Haveeru Online.
  7. Web site: US private equity fund buys both Maldivian seaplane operators for undisclosed sum.. 4 February 2014. Minivan News.
  8. Web site: Bain Capital Private Equity-led consortium acquires Trans Maldivian Airways. Capital. Bain. Bain Capital. 2019-06-14.
  9. Web site: Resorts. 2013. 11 December 2014.
  10. http://www.transmaldivian.com
  11. Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One) . Airliner World . October 2019 . 20.
  12. Web site: TMA in brief -. 2013-10-27. www.transmaldivian.com. en-US. 2019-06-14.
  13. Web site: Maldives Civil Aviation Authority - 8Q-TMC Collision with Seawall. www.aviainfo.gov.mv. Apr 15, 2021.
  14. "Investigation Report of the Accident to DeHavilland DHC‐6 “TwinOtter” (8Q‐TMA) on 19 February 2001 at Sun Island Resort" (Archive). Civil Aviation Department, Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. Retrieved on April 21, 2015.
  15. "ACCIDENT REPORT ON 8Q-TMC (TWIN OTTER) COLLISION WITH SEAWALL At Male’ International Airport On 17th of May 2004" (Archive). Accident Investigation Coordinating Committee. Retrieved on April 21, 2015.
  16. Web site: Accident: Trans Maldivian DHC6 at Male on May 27th 2017, tipped over on water landing. avherald.com. Apr 15, 2021.
  17. Web site: Accident: TMA DHC6 at Finolhu on Nov 13th 2021, right wing damage during water takeoff. avherald.com. Nov 17, 2021.

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