Maldives to receive first Twin Otter Classic 300-G, announces De Havilland Canada
Manufacturer De Havilland Canada signed a memorandum at the Farnborough Airshow with Maldivian national carrier Island Aviation Services Limited (Maldivian) for the purchase of two DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft. According to the manufacturer, these will be the very first aircraft of this newest Twin Otter version in the Maldives, which is the largest operating market for this type in the world.
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The announcement was made on 22 July 2026 at the Farnborough Airshow in the United Kingdom, where De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited signed a letter of intent (LOI) with the Maldivian carrier for two Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft. According to the manufacturer, this is the first step toward deploying the newest generation of this type in the Maldives, where the Twin Otter has long been the backbone of inter-island transport.
- Announcement date
- 22 July 2026
- Location
- Farnborough Airshow, UK
- Buyer
- Island Aviation Services (Maldivian)
- Aircraft type
- DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G
- Number of aircraft
- 2 units
- Agreement type
- Letter of Intent (LOI)
De Havilland Canada's Vice President of Sales, Ryan DeBrusk, said the Maldives has long been associated with the Twin Otter, and as the largest market for the type in the world, it is the most fitting place to introduce its new generation. According to DeBrusk, by doing so Island Aviation Services Limited becomes the first operator in the country to build on a partnership that, in his words, has connected islands and their communities for generations.
Island Aviation Services CEO Ibrahim Iyas said he is proud that his company will be the first airline in the Maldives to bring the Twin Otter Classic 300-G into service. According to Iyas, the Twin Otter has been an integral part of aviation in the Maldives for decades, and the new generation of the aircraft should allow the carrier to continue reliable service for passengers while benefiting from the latest technological and operational improvements.
Island Aviation Services provides connections across the Maldivian archipelago, including flights between the capital Malé and individual communities, resorts and remote islands. According to De Havilland Canada, the two new aircraft are meant to strengthen the carrier's ability to provide safe, reliable and efficient service and to support further growth in tourism and regional transport in the country.
Features of the 300-G version
- Retains the Twin Otter's key strengths – outstanding short takeoff and landing (STOL) performance and the ability to operate in demanding environments.
- Brings modernized avionics, greater passenger comfort and improved maintainability compared to previous versions.
- Thanks to a significant weight reduction, offers greater passenger and cargo capacity, improving the aircraft's operating economics.
De Havilland Canada notes that more than 1,000 Twin Otter aircraft have been built worldwide, logging millions of hours in environments ranging from Arctic communities and mountainous regions to tropical islands. According to the manufacturer, however, the type holds its greatest significance in the Maldives of all markets, where it has become the standard for safe and reliable inter-island transport.
In its press release, the manufacturer also presents itself as a key part of Canada's aerospace industry, delivering aircraft to operators around the world. According to De Havilland Canada, the company has delivered more than 5,000 aircraft to date, and its planes are used, among other things, for aerial firefighting, search and rescue missions, air ambulance transport and survey work.
Readers interested in Twin Otter operations in the Maldives can follow the carrier Island Aviation Services (Maldivian) as well as DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft on map.flights.