Minister: Helicopter service tender will reopen in Dec, launch in one year

The project to launch helicopter services in the Maldives will reopen for bids after amendments to the original terms in December, said Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen on Monday, adding that the government will work to have the service launched within one year.

In August 2024, the Transport Ministry invited bids from parties interested in providing commercial helicopter services in the Maldives. And in a TV interview in November, Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen said the service would launch by March.

It is now months past this deadline.

Ameen, who was summoned to the Parliament in the morning, was questioned regarding this delay by North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu), a lawmaker from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Responding to this, Ameen began by saying that helicopters can play a crucial role in the Maldives in enhancing medical evacuations, search and rescue operations, and in expanding tourism by filling the gap that seaplanes aren’t able to fill because they operate only during daytime.

“Considering this, helicopters are of vital importance. It is also crucial for search and rescue operations. And as tourism expands in the Maldives and planes arrive at our airports 24/7, given that seaplanes fly only in daytime, it is very important that we launch helicopter service in the Maldives,” he said.

Ameen said that tests conducted by the British Civil Aviation Authority found that helicopters that fit certain standards can be operated in the Maldives.

Ameen said that the original tender announcement in August had attracted proposals from around 36 companies. But they had complained that the terms were too unfavorable, specifically the stipulation that they provide search and rescue and medical evacuations for free.

He said that the Transport Ministry will be amending the original terms and reopening the project for bids.

However, he did not specify the changes.

“God willing, we will reopen it by December, and we are confident we will achieve this within one year,” he said.

The Transport Ministry invited bids to provide commercial helicopter services, including medical evacuations and guest transfers, on August 5.

And on August 21, the Regional Airports Company Limited (RACL) signed an agreement with Dubai’s Air Chateau DWC, a helicopter and vertiport operator; and Wings Capital Management from Abu Dhabi, to operate helicopter services in the Maldives for a 20-year period.

The project aims to establish up to 100 hybrid vertiports across 1,200 islands featuring Touch Down and Lift-Off (TLOF) areas, Final Approach and Take-Off (FATO) zones, safety zones, terminal waiting halls, and charging and fire-retardant infrastructure.

It also envisions the development of 500 drone ports dedicated to cargo operations, supporting first-, middle-, and last-mile logistics, all equipped with charging stations and fire-retardant systems.

Currently, medical evacuations are carried out by the two military-grade helicopters and a Dornier aircraft gifted by India, which had been previously operated by Indian soldiers who were replaced by civilian professionals last year.