De Havilland Canada signs letter of intent for two Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft with Maldivian

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (De Havilland Canada) signed a letter of intent with Island Aviation Services Limited, also known as Maldivian, the Maldives’ national airline, at the Farnborough Airshow for the purchase of two DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft.

The order will make these the first aircraft from the new Twin Otter Classic 300-G generation to be delivered to the Maldives, the world’s largest Twin Otter operator market.

Twin Otter Classic 300-G enters the Maldives

For decades, the Maldives has relied on the Twin Otter as the backbone of transport between its islands. Bringing in the Twin Otter Classic 300-G opens the next stage of that history, introducing the latest evolution of the iconic aircraft to an operator serving one of the world’s most demanding island aviation networks.

“The Maldives has long been known as the home of the Twin Otter,” said Ryan DeBrusk, Vice President of Sales at De Havilland Canada. “As the world’s largest Twin Otter market, there is no better place to introduce the next generation of this legendary aircraft. We are proud that Island Aviation Services Limited will become the first operator in the country to put the Twin Otter Classic 300-G into service, strengthening a partnership that has connected the islands and their communities for generations.”

The Twin Otter Classic 300-G builds on the aircraft’s unrivalled reputation for dependability and operational versatility. It also introduces modern avionics, improved passenger comfort and enhanced maintenance provisions to meet the changing requirements of today’s operators.

Supporting inter-island connectivity

Island Aviation Services Limited provides vital connections across the Maldivian archipelago, linking Malé with communities, resorts and remote islands throughout the country. Adding two Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft will further reinforce the airline’s ability to deliver safe, reliable and efficient services, while supporting the ongoing growth of tourism and regional transport.

“We are proud that we will be the first airline in the Maldives to introduce the Twin Otter Classic 300-G,” said Ibrahim Iyas, Managing Director of Island Aviation Services Limited. “The Twin Otter has been an integral part of aviation in the Maldives for decades, and this latest-generation aircraft will allow us to continue delivering the dependable service our passengers expect while benefiting from the aircraft’s latest technological and operational improvements.”

Performance and operational flexibility

The Twin Otter Classic 300-G retains the essential strengths operators depend on: exceptional short take-off and landing (STOL) performance and the ability to operate in some of the world’s most challenging environments. At the same time, it incorporates modern upgrades that support lower operating costs and greater mission flexibility. With a significant reduction in weight, the 300-G provides additional capacity for passengers and cargo, further improving its operating economics.

More than 1,000 aircraft have been produced, accumulating millions of flight hours worldwide. The Twin Otter remains one of the world’s leading utility aircraft, flying in settings ranging from Arctic communities and mountainous regions to tropical island destinations. Nowhere has its influence been greater than in the Maldives, where the aircraft has become the benchmark for safe and reliable transport between islands.

Information from De Havilland Canada