Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) has added a DHC-6-300 aircraft to its fleet.

The Twin Otter was brought to Velanaa International Airport on Tuesday.

TMA said that the new aircraft was procured in order to cater to an increase in demand for service, especially with the tourism sector, still ‘fast-expanding’.

The airline had operated 20,000 flights and carried 80,000 passengers in 2016. In August, TMA had a fleet of 44 aircrafts. 

TMA, of which the US-based Blackstone bought a majority share in 2013, is the largest seaplane operator in the world. 

Last week, Chinese conglomerate, the Zongcheng Industrial Group (ZIG) stated that it was in talks with TMA to begin operating seaplanes in the Maldives. 

Tourism newspaper, TTG Asia cited a hotel manager - based in a venture in the Maldives - in a story earlier this month which reported that the sector’s growth has reduced in comparison to the years before.