Maldivian (Q2, Malé) will convert its second aircraft - this time a floats-equipped DHC-6-300 - into an air ambulance as it expands its partnership with the Ministry of Health and the National Social Protection Agency.

The airline confirmed to ch-aviation that the second air ambulance aircraft will enter into service around mid-March 2024 but did not respond to ch-aviation's request for an identification of the airframe. The ch-aviation fleets module shows it currently operates eleven DHC-6-300s, of which one - 8Q-IAL (msn 358) - has been parked since April 2023.

As ch-aviation previously reported, the state-owned carrier recently began operating dedicated air ambulance services. It debuted its medevac operations on March 2, carrying a patient from Kulhudhuffushi to Malé and currently deploys a single DHC-8-Q200, 8Q-IAQ (msn 542), converted into an air ambulance capable of carrying two passengers. By adding a second, floats-equipped aircraft, it will be able to provide medevac services also to remote islands with no paved runways.

The Dash 8 will also be used for air ambulance services to Colombo International, which has more advanced healthcare facilities than the Maldives.