Air Chateau DWC, a helicopter and vertiport operator based in Dubai; Regional Airports Company Limited (RACL), a state-owned enterprise in the Maldives; and Wings Capital Management from Abu Dhabi, UAE, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to form a partnership under the “Project Elevate Maldives.” This initiative seeks to launch VVIP & HNI air taxi services, commercial cargo and passenger operations with eVTOLs, and develop advanced air mobility infrastructure throughout the Maldives, facilitating island air mobility for drones and VTOL aircraft.

To advance this project, RACL, which manages domestic airport operations, along with Air Chateau, the Dubai-based helicopter operator, and Wings Capital Management, the project management facilitator, plan to create a Public-Private Partnership. Air Chateau will establish a network of vertiports and droneports to link over 1,200 islands in the Maldives.

Within a network stretching approximately 180 nautical miles from the capital Male to the northern and southern regions, Air Chateau will be granted a 20-year operating license for helicopters and eVTOLs by RACL. The company will also work to attract foreign direct investment for the project.

The plan includes the development of up to 100 hybrid vertiports across the 1,200 islands, equipped with Touch Down and Lift-Off (TLOF) areas, Final Approach and Take-Off (FATO) zones, safety zones, terminal waiting areas, and infrastructure for charging and fire prevention. Additionally, up to 500 drone ports for cargo operations will be created, supporting logistics for first-, middle-, and last-mile segments, and will feature charging stations and fire-retardant systems.

RACL’s Managing Director, Ahamed Mubeen, mentioned that the company currently operates eight airports across the Maldives and aims to increase this number to 15 soon, in line with government plans. Mubeen expressed enthusiasm about partnering with globally recognized firms like Wings Capital Management and Air Chateau, considering it a prime opportunity for investors in the aviation sector.

Nipuna Wahalathanthrige, Group CEO of Wings Capital Management, highlighted the South Asian region’s potential for growth and innovation due to advanced technology and strategic management. As the Project Management Facilitator, Wings Capital Management is dedicated to the success of the initiative and noted strong interest from foreign investors and the current government’s proactive stance on investment opportunities.

Dr. Samir Mohammed, Chairman of Air Chateau, emphasized the Maldives' potential in the tourism and mobility sectors, estimating a market of around half a billion dollars annually for air tourism transfers. He noted that the Maldives is well-positioned for Island Air Mobility (IAM), similar to Regional Air Mobility (RAM) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM), with the company's helicopters and future eVTOL operations complementing existing transport modes in a coordinated hub-and-spoke system.

The “Elevate Maldives” project aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and aims to generate carbon credits.

Recently, the Maldives Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation called for expressions of interest from companies to provide helicopter services for tourists and emergency evacuations. The winning bidder will receive a 10-year exclusive contract for nationwide helicopter services, including tourist transport and air ambulance services, with no other company permitted to offer similar services during this period.