Manta Air Yet to Reverse Salary Cuts, Adding to Employee Tension as TMA Reinstates Pay

Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) has restored staff salaries and begun reimbursing earlier deductions, while Manta Air has yet to reverse the temporary pay cuts introduced in May, a contrast that is deepening uncertainty among Manta employees already facing rising living costs, inflation, and the lingering financial strain left by the COVID‑19 years. The differing approaches come at a time when domestic aviation operators continue to navigate an unpredictable market shaped by fluctuating tourist arrivals and easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

For many Manta Air staff, the sudden shift to reduced take‑home pay has been difficult to manage. Employees say the timing coming after years of instability during COVID‑19 and amid ongoing inflation  has added emotional and financial pressure.

TMA reinstated salaries this month and began reimbursing deductions made earlier in the year. Although the company has not publicly disclosed the exact percentage of its initial reduction, the reversal signals confidence in its financial footing and its ability to absorb short‑term volatility.

Manta Air continues to operate under the temporary salary‑reduction measures announced in early May. The internal memo confirmed that the cuts would apply from 1 May to 31 July 2026, with a review scheduled at the end of the period.

The memo followed the 13 April “Business Update and Cost Management Measures”, which warned of potential redundancies under Regulation 2021/R‑63. The airline said the prolonged regional conflict had placed sustained pressure on its business performance, prompting ongoing reviews of operational requirements and cost structure.

The company described the salary adjustment as a measure intended to:

• Avoid or minimise redundancies

• Share financial strain across the organisation

• Protect long‑term business sustainability

  
  

Regional tensions have eased following progress in the emerging US–Iran agreement, reducing immediate risks to Gulf airspace and improving airline routing stability. While this is a positive development for Maldives‑bound travel heavily reliant on Gulf transit hubs analysts caution that a full recovery will take time.

The contrasting decisions highlight the differing financial positions of domestic aviation operators and the very real human impact on employees as the Maldives continues to navigate a recovery that is progressing, but still far from complete.