RACL, Air Chateau apply to operate helicopter service in Maldives

Air Chateau DWC, a Dubai-based helicopter and vertiport operator, Regional Airports Company Limited (RACL), a state owned company of the Maldives, and Wings Capital Management of Abu Dhabi, UAE, have signed the Memorandum of Understanding aiming to create a collaborative partnership, roll out a VVIP & HNI air taxi operations, commercial cargo and passenger operations with eVTOLs and advanced air mobility infrastructure across the Maldives under the “Project Elevate Maldives” enabling island air mobility for drones and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft operations.

To implement the proposed project, Regional Airport Company Limited—a government entity responsible for domestic airport operations—along with Air Chateau, as Dubai based Helicopter operator and Wings Capital Management, as project management facilitator, intend to establish a Public-Private Partnership. In this partnership, AirChateau will develop a network of vertiports and droneports to connect over 1,200 islands across the Maldives.

Managing Director of RACL, Ahamed Mubeen, stated that the company currently operates eight airports across various regions of the Maldives and aims to expand this number to 15 in the near future, aligned with ongoing government planning initiatives.

“This unique opportunity positions us as an ideal partner for investors in the aviation sector. We are pleased to establish this understanding with globally recognized firms like Wings Capital Management and Air Chateau,” said Mubeen.

Nipuna Wahalathanthrige, Group CEO, Wings Capital Management, Dubai, UAE, underscored the South Asian region’s unique potential for competitive growth and innovation driven by advanced technology and strategic management. As the key Project Management Facilitator of this proposed project, Wings Capital Management is committed to making this initiative a success. Wahalathanthrige further emphasised the keen interest of foreign investors for projects in the Maldives and noted that the active stance of the current government in attracting investment opportunities.

In an island network spanning for about 180 nautical miles from the capital city of Male towards northern and southern parts of the country, Air Chateau will receive rights of operate by RACL, state privileges to operate helicopters and eVTOL operations in the Maldives for 20 years. The company will also be responsible for attracting foreign direct investment in the project.

According to Dr Samir Mohammed, Chairman of Air Chateau, “The Maldives presents a unique opportunity for us, especially within the tourism and mobility sectors. With a total addressable market for air tourism transfers estimated at around half a billion dollars annually, the Maldives exemplifies the potential for Island Air Mobility (IAM), similar to Regional Air Mobility (RAM) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM). Our helicopters and future eVTOL operations will simply complement the existing transportation modes, creating a synergistic and convenient hub-and-spoke system.”

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. Additionally, the project 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.

The “Elevate Maldives” project has been identified to be aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and carbon credits.

The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation in the Maldives recently invited companies to express interest in providing helicopter services for tourists and emergency evacuations. The successful bidder will receive a 10-year exclusive contract to operate helicopter services nationwide. This includes both tourist transport and helicopter-based air ambulance services. During this period, no other company will be allowed to operate similar services in the Maldives.