Maldivian retires 26-year-old Dash-8 aircraft as ATR transition continues

Maldivian has withdrawn a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 aircraft from its fleet, sending it to Canada as part of the national carrier's ongoing shift to ATR aircraft, the airline said in a social media statement.

The aircraft, registered 8Q-IAS with serial number 546, departed the Maldives for Canada on 16 July 2026, according to Maldivian. Flight tracking data confirms the aircraft flew from Male to Gan Island on 16 July, then onward toward East Africa on 17 July, consistent with a ferry route out of the region.

Maldivian said the aircraft had served the airline for more than 14 years, completing over 29,000 flight hours and more than 37,000 cycles. The airline said the aircraft is returning to De Havilland Canada, its original manufacturer, 26 years after it was built, following a public request for proposals (RFP).

The airline did not disclose the financial terms of the transaction.

Part of a wider fleet shift

The retirement is the latest step in a fleet renewal program that Maldivian management has said began in 2022. The airline has been phasing out its aging Dash-8 turboprop fleet, which has served domestic routes since 2008, in favor of newer ATR aircraft.

Managing Director Ibrahim Iyas told PSM News in an interview aired in May 2026 that Dash-8 production had been discontinued around 2009 or 2010, driving up maintenance expenses as spare parts became harder to source. He said the airline had shifted toward an ATR-dominated fleet as a result and that it had ordered two additional ATR aircraft, with one expected by the end of 2026 and the second in early 2027.

As of that report, Maldivian's fleet totaled 27 aircraft, including one wide-body Airbus A330, one Airbus A320, five ATR aircraft, nine Dash-8 aircraft, and 11 DHC-6 Twin Otter seaplanes. The exact current fleet composition following this latest retirement has not been independently confirmed.

Maldivian said its move to ATR aircraft is intended to improve passenger comfort, reduce fuel costs, and lower the airline's environmental footprint. These are the airline's own characterizations and have not been independently verified.

Maldivian is a brand of the government-owned Island Aviation Services Limited and operates most domestic flights within the Maldives.