De Havilland Canada signs Farnborough Airshow letter of intent with Island Aviation Services Limited (Maldivian) for two DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft in the Maldives

Letter of intent signed at the Farnborough Airshow

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

Once confirmed, the deal will see the first aircraft from the new-generation Twin Otter Classic 300-G delivered into the Maldives. This is a notable milestone for the world’s largest Twin Otter operating market.

For decades, the Maldives has relied on the Twin Otter as the backbone of inter-island transport. Bringing the Twin Otter Classic 300-G into service marks the next stage in that long-standing relationship, placing the latest evolution of the iconic aircraft with an operator supporting one of the most demanding island aviation networks anywhere.

“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, reinforcing a partnership that has connected the islands and their communities for generations.”

Twin Otter Classic 300-G improvements and operating strengths

The Twin Otter Classic 300-G builds on the aircraft’s unmatched reputation for reliability and operational flexibility, while adding modern avionics, improved passenger comfort, and enhanced maintainability to match the changing requirements of today’s operators.

It also retains the core strengths operators depend on: outstanding short take-off and landing performance (STOL-short take-off and landing) and the ability to work in some of the world’s toughest environments. Alongside these fundamentals, the 300-G incorporates contemporary updates intended to support lower operating costs and greater mission flexibility.

With a significant reduction in weight, the 300-G creates additional capacity for passengers and cargo, further strengthening its operating economics.

What the Twin Otter Classic 300-G means for Maldivian connectivity

Island Aviation Services Limited provides critical 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 boost the airline’s ability to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient services, while supporting continued growth in tourism and regional transport.

“We are proud to 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 providing the dependable service our passengers expect while benefiting from the aircraft’s latest technological and operational enhancements.”

With more than 1,000 aircraft produced and millions of flight hours logged worldwide, the Twin Otter remains one of the leading utility aircraft globally-operating everywhere from Arctic communities and mountainous regions to tropical island destinations. Nowhere, however, 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