Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) recorded a new operational milestone on 15 February, carrying more than 7,000 passengers in one day while completing over 800 aircraft movements across its network.

The figures represent the highest level of daily activity in TMA’s operating history and reflect the scale of demand placed on inter-island air transport during the peak tourism season. The airline operates seaplane services between Velana International Airport and resort islands throughout the Maldives using a fleet of DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft.

The volume of movements required extensive coordination across flight scheduling, aircraft turnaround operations and marine handling arrangements to sustain service continuity throughout the day. TMA said maintaining operational reliability at this level of activity required close coordination between flight crews, ground teams and marine support units.

The record day comes as visitor arrivals continue to rise during the high season, placing additional pressure on transfer services linking resorts to the main international gateway. Tourism sector stakeholders have previously noted that air transfers play a central role in enabling access to remote islands, which form the backbone of the Maldives’ resort-based tourism model.

TMA said the record performance reflected the combined efforts of its operational teams to meet elevated demand levels, adding that maintaining service consistency during peak periods remains a priority as tourism activity continues to expand.

As resort capacity grows and new properties open across the atolls, demand for inter-island connectivity is expected to remain high, with seaplane transfers continuing to play a key role in supporting tourism operations nationwide.