The Transport Ministry is seeking a party to provide helicopter services in the Maldives.
In an announcement, the ministry invited expressions of interest (EOI) from those interested in operating helicopter flights for emergency and tourism industries. This includes transporting tourists and providing helicopter air ambulance services for patient transport and search and rescue operations. Interested parties are requested to submit their EOI before 2:00 pm on August 19.
The Maldives previously operated commercial helicopter flights, but the service was discontinued in 1999 following a fatal crash that raised safety concerns about the helicopters in use. Since then, helicopter flights have not been commercially operated in the Maldives. However, the MNDF occasionally uses helicopters for patient transport and rescue operations.
In December 2017, during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration, the Civil Aviation Authority conducted a study with the British Civil Aviation Authority to explore the possibility of resuming helicopter services in the Maldives.
