Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) is the largest seaplane transfer service in the world. In 2016 it won the "World Travel Awards Tourism Pioneer in Aviation" award for its contribution to the growth of the tourism industry in the Maldives over the past 20 years. The company provides safe, scenic journeys from the main airports to island resorts, offering tourists a unique chance to discover the country from the best possible vantage point: up in the air, looking down at the turquoise waters dotted with no fewer than 1,192 islands. Company CEO A U M Fawzy explains TMA's successful business model and its symbiotic relationship with the Maldivian tourism industry.
The company started operating in 1989 as a helicopter service named Maldivian Air Taxi. Traveling to Kuredu in 1991, company founder Lars Erik Nielsen took eight to nine hours to get there, and he saw a business opportunity for seaplanes. He took the risk, and in 1993 commercial seaplanes were introduced. The first flight carried just four passengers, whereas today we carry close to a million a year. In 2013 there were two companies, Trans Maldivian Airways and Maldivian Air Taxi. They were bought by Blackstone and merged, and became simply Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA). Today, we are the world's largest seaplane operator despite operating in such a small country. As for the fleet, in 1993 we had two aircraft, and today we have 49 and expect to have 50 by the end of the year.
How has TMA been an integral part of tourism development in the Maldives?
Keep in mind that the Maldives have 1,192 islands spread across 800km. Initially people were transferred by speedboat or helicopter, and tourism was confined to 30 nautical miles from Malé. But we were able to take the tourism industry beyond that limit, so we became the infrastructure of Maldivian tourism. Because the seaplane was successful, resorts trusted us and the tourism industry believed in us. I remember that back in the 1970s or 80s, a UN report claimed that the Maldives would never be a tourism destination because of problems with transport to the islands. But TMA provided that transport, and tourism took off. We now fly to more than 60 resorts. The Maldives is a tourist destination and the bulk of our business model is based on tourism. So it's all based on a symbiotic relationship – we help the resorts grow, they attract tourists, and in return the country is able to do better and so are we.
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"We have been doing this for 20 years, and we have not had a single fatality in all this time: that's how good our safety record is"
You are carrying nearly as many passengers as arrive to the Maldives annually. What makes you the airline of choice for travelers?
We have competition, but what sets TMA apart is the service. If you are an international passenger, coming out of the terminal you come into one of our 27 luxury lounges. Within two hours you will be flown to your resort and find your luggage in your room. It's a door-to-door service that is more than just a transfer. Flying in a seaplane is breathtaking, you see the islands, the sea colors. The best way to see this country is in a seaplane. We call it a unique experience. Also, our business model is different from that of any other airline. Normally, you have the aircraft and you assign passengers to it until it is full. We do the complete opposite: we have the list of passengers and we assign the aircraft to match their needs, which means there is no minimum and no maximum. Resorts tell us what they need and we cover that, thanks to our fleet and our efficient team. Even if it is just one passenger, we provide the service. People cannot be waiting five hours for a flight to get full. This concept of flexibility is the secret to our success.
"Flexibility is the secret to our success"
How does TMA deal with security and safety issues?
Most of our passengers come through the international terminal and go through security, and our own personnel are also well trained in security issues. We also conduct regular safety audits.. We have been doing this for 20 years, operating 300 to 400 flights a day, and we have not had a single fatality in all this time: that's how good our record is. We have often been requested to offer our professional advice on the seaplane industry by business and political leaders from other parts of the world – that's how much respect we have earned in the industry.
How will TMA be affected by new infrastructure to accommodate larger numbers of visitors to the Maldives, including expanding the international airport?
This is a huge advantage to TMA, because it means more business. I am no economist, but based on my personal experience for the past 20 years, I see that tourism here was around 1.2 million visitors last year; if you take the total tourism of the world, then our target of 7 million is still around 0,2% of the total. And we have not penetrated all the markets yet. So even if we grow our tourist numbers, the Maldives can still retain that luxurious feeling of privacy and seclusion that visitors enjoy today. This is never going to be a magnet for mass tourism like Thailand or Indonesia.
How is TMA going to adapt to this influx of tourists?
We were able to adapt from four passengers in 1993 to a million today, and we did it right, so I am sure that we can grow now and do it right, too. And of course not all seven million passengers will come to us. Our share is about 40%, so that would be about three million. It's not that big of a leap, and growth will happen incrementally. Nine new resorts opened last year, and we didn't have a problem with that, we simply got the necessary aircraft and the team together to service their needs.
Does TMA have plans to innovate?
Yes. At first there was just a common waiting area for passengers and then we introduced VIP lounges. We have a great IT system but we will keep updating it. Continuing on the path of innovation, last year we launched the first air conditioned seaplane in the Maldives, which further accentuates the seaplane experience of our guests. We keep on changing and innovating to improve passenger experience.
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"We are aware that the first and the last impression for tourists in the Maldives is us, so we make sure that we do it right"
What is your vision for the future of TMA?
Our vision is to remain the airline of choice for visitors. Every day is a new day, and every day is different. We have so many variables to contend with: international flights can be delayed, the weather can turn bad, the passenger may get delayed in customs, the baggage could get lost during travel before arriving in Malé. This means that we may have to change our original schedules several times a day. I call it an organized chaos, and nobody is better at managing chaos than us. Our people are able to adapt to the circumstances quickly, and we carry 3,000 to 4,000 passengers a day. So there is never a dull moment at TMA, and that makes every day interesting. We are aware that the first and the last impression for tourists in the Maldives is us, so we make sure that we do it right.
What is your experience living in the Maldives?
I joined in 1995, and this has become my home. I am a foreigner here, and when I arrived I felt so welcome, it felt like paradise. The most important thing is the people that you work with, and the locals are very friendly and always try to make you feel comfortable. This is also one of the safest places in the world, where a lady can walk at midnight by herself from one end of the island to the other end. And the lifestyle is so relaxing, even when you are working. From the very top ministerial and government levels, all the way down, people are very supportive and want to help you, so it is easy to get your job done. It is easy to access people and get things done right. It's great to work here, and this country still has a lot of potential for growth.