Manta Air, one of the three airlines operating in the Maldives, has decided to cease its domestic operations and transition exclusively to seaplane services.
While Manta Air has not officially confirmed the move, reliable sources have verified the decision to Adhadhu. According to these sources, the airline plans to phase out its ATR aircraft operations within the next three to six months. Employees have reportedly already been notified of this shift.
The decision was made because of the airline's inability to expand its domestic operations profitably. Sources said that Manta Air faces high service fees from domestic airport operators, including its competitor, Island Aviation Services (IAS), which operates the national carrier, Maldivian.
Island Aviation manages several airports Manta Air previously flew to, including Dharavandhoo Airport in Baa Atoll, Ifuru Airport in Raa Atoll, and Madivaru Airport in Lhaviyani Atoll. The airline was forced to discontinue these routes after Island Aviation refused to lower charges for flight operations and ground handling services.
Manta Air had previously engaged in discussions with Island Aviation to find a sustainable way to continue its domestic flights. One proposal put forward by Manta Air was a code-sharing agreement between the two airlines; however, Island Aviation rejected the proposal.
The termination of domestic operations is expected to result in job losses, affecting pilots, engineers, and ground operations staff. The exact number of affected employees remains unclear, as Manta Air has not yet provided an official comment on the matter.
Currently, Manta Air’s domestic flights are limited to Dhaalu Airport. The airline has already reduced its fleet of ATR 72-600 aircraft from three to just one.
Since its launch seven years ago on February 24, 2019, Manta Air has provided both domestic and international services, establishing itself as a key player in the local aviation industry.
The airline’s domestic network previously included Kudahuvadhoo, Gan, Hoarafushi, Ifuru, Madivaru, and Dharavandhoo. Additionally, the carrier operated direct international flights between Dhaalu Airport and Bengaluru, India.
With Manta Air’s exit from the domestic market, the sector will be left with only Maldivian and Villa Air. As Villa Air currently only operates routes to Maamigili and Dharavandhoo, Maldivian will effectively become the sole operator for all other domestic airports across the country.
