Trans Maldivian Airways
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Kit Chambers |
| Headquarters | Malé , Maldives |
Area served | Maldives (tourist resorts and atolls) |
| Products | Seaplane transfers, scenic aerial tours, aircraft chartering, domestic flights (discontinued) |
| Owner | Bain Capital (majority stake) |
| Website | www |
Trans Maldivian Airways (Pvt) Ltd. (TMA) is a privately owned airline based at Velana International Airport in Malé, Maldives. As the nation's longest-established air transfer service, TMA operates seaplane transfers primarily from Velana International Airport to a wide array of tourist resorts. In 2013, it maintained the planet’s largest seaplane fleet. By December 2016, TMA had also commenced operations from Gan International Airport, catering to resorts located in Addu and Huvadhu Atolls.
Hummingbird Island Airways
The company originated in 1989 when pilot Kit Chambers founded Hummingbird Island Helicopters, initially offering helicopter transfers for tourists to select island resorts. In 1993, following the introduction of seaplane services by rival Maldivian Air Taxi, Hummingbird rebranded as Hummingbird Island Airways in 1997 and incorporated Twin Otter seaplanes into its operations. By 1999, the entire fleet consisted solely of seaplanes.
Trans Maldivian Airways
In 2000, with new leadership, Hummingbird Island adopted the name Trans Maldivian Airways. TMA expanded its fleet to include 16 Twin Otter seaplanes and operated alongside Maldivian Air Taxi to serve an increasing number of resort destinations throughout the Maldives.
Plans in 2006 included acquiring three ATR 42 aircraft to connect domestic airports across the atolls. The first ATR arrived in early 2007, and flights to Gan International Airport began in August that year. Nevertheless, due to financial setbacks, TMA discontinued domestic flight services in 2009 and sold the two ATR planes it had acquired.
In 2011, the airline added its first Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft, bringing the total number of planes in its fleet to 23.
Merger with Maldivian Air Taxi
Established in 1993, Maldivian Air Taxi was TMA’s primary competitor in seaplane transfers and operated what was then the world’s largest seaplane fleet. On February 4, 2013, both Trans Maldivian Airways and Maldivian Air Taxi were acquired by American investment firm Blackstone Group, which merged them into one entity boasting a combined fleet of 44 seaplanes—the largest worldwide. The unified company continued under the Trans Maldivian Airways brand but adopted refreshed branding that incorporated colors from Maldivian Air Taxi.
Together with the Maldives Transport Authority, the merged airline proposed extending seaplane services beyond resort islands to inhabited atolls.
Acquisition by Bain Capital
On December 18, 2017, a consortium led by Bain Capital Private Equity purchased Trans Maldivian Airways from Blackstone Group. The consortium also includes Shenzhen Tempus Global Business Services Holdings Ltd and TBRJ Fund 1 L.P., with Bain Capital holding roughly an 80% stake. This acquisition strengthened Bain Capital’s portfolio within aviation and tourism infrastructure sectors.
Destinations
The Maldives stands as a top-tier tourist hotspot featuring many luxury resorts. TMA facilitates seaplane connections linking visitors to prominent resort islands across various atolls:
Haa Alif Atoll
- Manafaru (JA Manafaru)
- Dhonakulhi (Hideaway Beach Resort and Spa)
Shaviyani Atoll
- Gaakoshinbi (Fairmont Sirru Fen Fushi)
- Vagaru (JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa)
Noonu Atoll
- Fushivelaavaru (Velaa Private Island)
- Medhafushi (Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives)
- Dhigurah (Siyam World Maldives)
- Kudafunafaru (Noku Maldives)
- Medhufaru (Soneva Jani)
- Kuredhivaru (Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru)
- Randheli (Cheval Blanc Randheli)
Raa Atoll
- Aarah (Heritance Aarah)
- Dhigali (Dhigali Maldives)
- Faarafushi (Faarufushi Maldives)
- Filaidhoo (Reethi Faru Maldives)
- Furaveri Island Resort
- Huruvalhi (The Standard Huruvalhi Maldives)
- Meedhupparu (Adaaran Select Medhupparu)
- Uthurumaafaru (You & Me by Cocoon Maldives)
Baa Atoll
- Dhunikolhu (Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu)
- Dhigufaruvinagandu (Dhigufaru Island Resort)
- Finolhas (Amilla Fushi)
- Fonimagoodhoo (Reethi Beach Resort)
- Kanifushi (Finolhu)
- Kunfunadhoo (Soneva Fushi)
- Landaa Giraavaru (Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru)
- Milaidhoo
- Miriandhoo (The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo)
- Mudhdhoo (Dusit Thani Maldives)
- Thiladhoo (The Nautilus Maldives)
Lhaviyani Atoll
- Thilamaafushi (Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa)
- Fushifaru (Fushifaru Maldives)
- Huruvalhi (Hurawalhi Maldives Resort)
- Innahura (Innahura Maldives Resort)
- Kanifushi (Atmosphere Kanifushi)
- Kanuhura
- Komandoo (Komandoo Maldives Island Resort)
- Kudadhoo Maldives Private Island
- Kuredhdhoo (Kuredu Resort)
- Madhiriguraidhoo (Palm Beach Resort and Spa Maldives)
- Ookolhufinolhu (Cocoon Maldives)
Kaafu Atoll
- Biyadhoo Island Resort
- Bolifushi (Jumeirah Vittaveli)
- Helengeli Island Resort
- Kuda Huraa (Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa)
- Medhufinolhu (One & Only Reethi Rah)
- Meerufenfushi Island Resort and Spa
- Olhahali (LUX* North Male' Atoll)
- Ziyaaraifushi (Summer Island Village)
Alif Alif Atoll
- Ellaidhoo (Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo)
- Fesdu (W Retreat and Spa - Maldives)
- Gangehi Island Resort
- Halaveli (Constance Halaveli)
- Kandholhudhoo Island
- Kudafolhudhoo (Nika Island Resort)
- Kuramathi Island Resort
- Maayafushi (VOI Maayafushi Resort)
- Velidhoo Island Resort
- Veligandu Island Resort and Spa
Alif Dhaalu Atoll
- Athuruga Diamonds Athuruga
- Dhidhdhoofinolhu LUX* South Ari Atoll
- Huvahendhoo Lily Beach Resort and Spa
- Kudarah Amaya Resort Kudarah
- Maafushivaru
- Machchafushi Centara Grand Island Resort and Spa Maldives
- Mirihi Island Resort
- Moofushi Constance Moofushi
- Rangalifinolhu Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
- Theluveligaa Drift Thelu Veliga by Castaway
- Thudufushi Diamonds Thudufushi
- Vakarufalhi Island Resort
- Vilamendhoo Island Resort and Spa
Vaavu Atoll
- Alimatha Aquatic Resort
- Dhiggiri VOI Dhiggiri Resort
- Thinadhoo Cinnamon Velifushi
Meemu Atoll
- Medhufushi Island Resort
- Hakuraahuraa Cinnamon Haakuraa Huraa
Faafu Atoll
- Filitheyo Island Resort
Dhaalu Atoll
- Aluvifushi Sun Siyam Iru Veli Maldives
- Dhoores aaaVeee Nature's Paradise Maldives
- Meedhuffushi Sun Siyam Vilu Reef Maldives
- Velavaru Angsana Velavaru Resort
- Vommuli St. Regis Vommuli
Services
The company provides a range of services including:
- Scenic aerial tours
- Transfers to resorts
- Picnic flight experiences
- Aircraft chartering
- Domestic flight operations
Fleet
As of January 2025, Trans Maldivian Airways maintains a fleet consisting of 65 de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft. These include Series 100, 200, 300, and 400 variants, each designed to accommodate 15 passengers.
| Aircraft | In service | On order | Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 100 | 1 | 15 | |
| DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 200 | 2 | 15 | |
| DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 300 | 59 | 15 | |
| DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 | 3 | 15 | |
| Total | 65 |
Incidents and accidents
Significant events involving the airline include:
- In February 2001, two DHC-6 Twin Otters collided upon landing at Holiday Island Resort; fortunately, no injuries occurred.
- In May 2004, a Series 300 aircraft struck the seawall at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport during takeoff, seriously injuring both pilots and a passenger. The plane was declared a total loss but was subsequently reconstructed by Viking Air as the prototype for the Series 400.
- In May 2017, a Series 100 aircraft partially capsized and became submerged after landing at Male's seaplane terminal.
- In November 2021, during takeoff, a Series 100 aircraft collided with an overwater villa at Finolhu Hotel Resort, causing damage but no major injuries.
- In June 2024, a DHC-6-300 amphibious aircraft experienced a float separation incident while landing at the Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort.