In the Maldives, Soneva Holdings, which operates numerous hotels in the luxury category, will in future be transporting guests from Malé to the hotels on islands using a de Havilland DHC-6-300 seaplane.

One cooperates with Manta Air, since it is formally a commercial passenger transport and one must have an AOC and an operating license for this. However, the machine is leased from Soneva Holdings.

According to CH-Aviation.com, the turboprop aircraft is 45,5 years old and is currently based in Cairns, Australia as VH-FIW. Maintenance work is carried out there. The DHC-6-300 is to be transferred to the Maldives shortly. Before it is used as a hotel shuttle for the first time, the machine is fitted with a VIP cabin. This aircraft was most recently in service with Dimonim Air and is owned by lessor Montrose Global.

This is not the first seaplane that Soneva Holdings has organized. In 2018, Montrose Global also leased a Viking Air DHC-6-200, registered 8Q-RAL. The machine was originally operated by Trans Maldivian Airways on behalf of the hotel group, but has since been handed over to Manta Air.