MEGA Maldives Airlines has plans to introduce a third aircraft into its fleet this year as it embarks on further expansion across the Asian continent and potential future growth into the European market. The company, dubbed the international airline of the Republic of Maldives, is an integrated service provider specialising in holiday travel to, from, and within Asia. It launched operations with a single Boeing 767-300ER in January 2011 and provides international links from both Male Ibrahim Nasir International Airport and Gan International Airport in the archipelago.

In an exclusive interview with The HUB at Routes Asia in Chengdu, China this week, George Weinmann, Chief Executive Officer, MEGA Maldives Airlines, confirmed that the carrier is considering a change to its business model to explore new niches within Europe, although growth will also continue in Asia. “One year on from our launch in January 2012 we added a second 767-300ER to our fleet on lease from GECAS and we are now working on introducing a third aircraft, possibly a 757-200,” he explained.

The venture currently operates its two 767s in a three-class cabin with a completely separate Premium Economy section. The configuration can seat 250 passengers with 12 in Business Class, 42 in premium Economy and 196 in Economy and George Weinmann expects to provide a similar offering of around 200 seats on the 757, although he acknowledges its single-aisle cabin means it will have to look at things carefully.

MEGA Maldives currently offers links from the popular luxury holiday destination to the Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Hong Kong, which was its launch route. The airline will resume a seasonal service to Chongqing and will also add flights to additional Chinese destinations this year, including Chengdu. There are also plans to add flights to South Korea, while discussions are ongoing to enter the Japanese market.

“There is tremendous demand for traffic between China and the Maldives, a market that has grown from around 60,000 passengers in 2009 to 198,000 last year. The possible arrival of the 757 with winglets will afford us the capacity flexibility to enter new markets as it will have a similar eight hour range to the larger 767,” said George Weinmann.

This could mean the launch of flights to Europe, although the airline’s boss makes it clear it will not step onto the toes of existing operators. “The European market is huge, but there are some major players including British Airways, Condor and TUI Airlines. We are a niche player and will remain a niche player and so we will not go head-to-head with major competitors,” explained George Weinmann. “However, there are two current markets in Europe that we see a strong potential and we expect to enter these in the fall or winter.”

Ahead of the airline’s launch in January 2011 its backers had spent a couple of years developing the right business model for the venture to support changes in the operating environment. “We identified some niche markets and we like niche markets,” acknowledged George Weinmann. And, it appears that the airline’s model has been successful as when it was launched it envisaged flying three to five aircraft within its first five years. Now, according to its boss, this has been revised to around ten aircraft.