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

The order will make the Maldives, the world’s largest Twin Otter operating market, the destination for the first new-generation Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft delivered to the country.

Twin Otter Classic 300-G in the Maldives

For decades, the Maldives has relied on the Twin Otter as the backbone of inter-island transport. Bringing in the Twin Otter Classic 300-G opens a new chapter in that history, introducing the latest development 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 unmatched reputation for reliability and operational versatility, while adding modern avionics, improved passenger comfort and enhanced maintainability to meet the changing requirements of today’s operators.

Island connectivity and operational capability

Island Aviation Services Limited provides vital connectivity 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 strengthen the airline’s ability to provide safe, dependable and efficient services, while supporting continued growth in 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 Maldivian aviation for decades, and this latest-generation aircraft will allow us to continue delivering the reliable service our passengers expect while benefiting from the aircraft’s latest technological and operational improvements.”

The Twin Otter Classic 300-G retains the core strengths on which operators depend: 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 improvements that support lower operating costs and greater mission flexibility. Thanks to a significant weight reduction, the 300-G provides additional capacity for passengers and cargo, further improving its operating economics.

A global utility aircraft

With more than 1,000 aircraft built and millions of flight hours logged worldwide, the Twin Otter remains one of the world’s leading utility aircraft. It operates in settings ranging from Arctic communities and mountainous regions to tropical island destinations. Nowhere has its influence been greater than in the Maldives, where it has become the benchmark for safe and reliable inter-island transport.

Information from De Havilland Canada