Maldivian (Q2, Malé) has taken delivery of its first ATR42-600, completing an order placed in late 2021 and comprising three ATR - Avions de Transport Régional turboprops.
8Q-IAX (msn 1613) was ferried from Toulouse Blagnac via Irakleion, Hurghada, and Muscat to Malé over the course of March 30-April 2, 2023. It has yet to be deployed into revenue service. It was originally scheduled to deliver in February.
The airline's first and only ATR42-600 joins two ATR72-600s that were delivered in January 2023. All three aircraft were ordered in the same batch in December 2021.
The ATRs will replace the carrier's ageing fleet of DHC-8s. The ch-aviation fleets module shows that Maldivian continues to operate one DHC-8-Q200, one DHC-8-200, and seven DHC-8-Q300s (including two that are inactive). All of the DHC-8s were put up for sale last year. The carrier also operates one A320-200 and eleven floats-equipped DHC-6-300s.
