The Regional Airports Company Limited (RACL) has taken a significant step towards enhancing air mobility in the Maldives by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two prominent UAE-based companies, Air Chateau DWC and Wings Capital Management. This collaboration aims to introduce comprehensive helicopter services across the archipelago, marking a new era in the nation’s transportation sector.
The initiative, dubbed “Project Elevate Maldives,” is set to revolutionize air travel within the Maldives. The project will focus on launching VVIP and high-net-worth individual (HNI) air taxi operations, as well as commercial cargo and passenger services utilizing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This advanced air mobility infrastructure will connect over 1,200 islands, significantly improving accessibility and convenience for both residents and tourists.
The MoU establishes a public-private partnership where Air Chateau, a Dubai-based helicopter and vertiport operator, will develop a network of vertiports and droneports. These facilities will feature state-of-the-art infrastructure, including Touch Down and Lift-Off (TLOF) areas, Final Approach and Take-Off (FATO) zones, safety zones, terminal waiting halls, and charging stations.
Ahmed Mubeen, Managing Director of RACL, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, highlighting its potential to attract significant investment in the aviation sector.
“This unique opportunity positions us as an ideal partner for investors in the aviation sector,” Mubeen stated. "We are pleased to establish this understanding with globally recognized firms like Wings Capital Management and Air Chateau".
Dr. Samir Mohammed, Chairman of Air Chateau, emphasized the project’s potential to enhance the Maldives’ tourism and mobility sectors, which are valued at approximately half a billion dollars annually.
“Our helicopters and future eVTOL operations will complement existing transportation modes, creating a synergistic and convenient hub-and-spoke system,” he noted.
The project envisions the establishment of up to 100 hybrid vertiports and 500 drone ports dedicated to cargo operations, supporting first-, middle-, and last-mile logistics. This infrastructure will be equipped with charging stations and fire-retardant systems, ensuring safety and efficiency.
With the formal announcement by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation earlier this month, the Maldives is poised to become a leader in island air mobility, setting a benchmark for similar initiatives worldwide.
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