Our last flight on Trans Maldivian Airways had us returning from the St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort to the Malé Noovilu Sea Plane Terminal. Trans Maldivian Airways runs the propellor plane network of transfers between the various islands of the Republic of the Maldives. The The colors that you get to see flying over the coral atolls of the maldives is a unique experience and likely one that you will not easily forget.

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This post is one chapter on my trip to the Republic of the Maldives. This trip was enhanced through Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and Air Canada’s Aeroplan. For more information on how this trip was booked, please see our trip introduction. For other parts of the trip, please see this index.

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Review: Trans Maldivian Airways De Havilland Twin Otter, St Regis Vommuli – Malé Noovilu Sea Plane Terminal

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We had a wonderful six day stay at The St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort. Along with all things, our time at the property drew to the end.

Checking into Trans Maldivian Airways:

Our return trip back to the Malé Noovilu Sea Plane Terminal was handled by our St Regis Maldives butler. Since we had our bags weighed on the way out, we had no additional weighing.

Our plane was already on site when we arrived to the departure jetty. Our luggage had already been loaded and we were invited on board.

It’s always a sad experience to leave such a great resort. We’d have some comfort knowing that we would be back again someday.

Boarding Trans Maldivian Airways:

We clambered on board the Trans Maldivian Airways De Havilland Twin Otter. Seating on the Twin Otter is in a 1 – 2 configuration. It’s pretty compact with a full load in these things and I wouldn’t call the seating arrangements spacious.

After I had taken my seat in the second row, I was asked to re-seat towards the back of the aircraft due to weight issues.

As a result, I ended up in a different row than my wife. I also ended up in the centre row without great window views.

I would later learn that the best views for this particular journey are on the right hand side of the aircraft. As a result, I would recommend that you sit on the right hand side if you’re planning on taking any photographs.

Flying a Sea Plane over the Maldives:

Trans Maldivian Airways
Malé – Vommuli (Male Noovilu Sea Plane Terminal – St Regis Maldives Vommuli)
TMA Flight 232
Flown: March 20, 2023
Departure: 3:00 PM
Arrival: 4:15 PM
Booked: DeHavilland Twin Otter
Flown: DeHavilland Twin Otter

We got underway quickly with a lengthy taxi out from the St Regis Maldives resort. We didn’t get a fly by of the resort one last time, and we were underway on a north eastern track towards Malé very quickly. Since I was in a centre seat, I had a great view of the open air cockpit.

Much like our flight down, we had a forty five minute flight back up to Malé to the Noovilu Sea Plane terminal. The trip back up to Malé was the most remarkable flight of the four that we had, with the best views available of all of the journeys.

Spotting islands from the air in the Maldives allows for spotting of various resorts, islands and other inhabited islands. Some islands have terrific over water pontoons hinting at the life of luxury miles below.

I could spend hours looking at these coral atolls. Their shapes and sizes keep me entertained for hours as you glide over top of the Maldives. I’m surprised there are not more boat charter multi day trips in the Maldives as there are many lagoons to discover.

Even MrsWT73 got entranced by the views just outside the window.

Eventually, we got closer to the capital of Malé with more developed resorts. Some appeared to have a lot of reclaimed land as their island shapes were a little square.

I could stare at these blue colours all day long.

Landing at Malé Noovilu Sea Plane Terminal:

We started a descent into the Malé Noovilu Sea Plane Terminal. With Malé a short distance away, there were a lot of things to look at on our arrival and final approach.

We spotted views of Malé and the Chinese funded friendship bridge linking Malé and Hulhule Island. This was a new addition since the last time that I had been through the Maldives. It was designed to alleviate some of the dense crowding in Malé; one of the world’s most densely populated cities.

We eventually descended on a track just east of the reclaimed island of Hulhumalé. We eventually swung around on a descent towards the Malé Noovilu Sea Plane Terminal. It was a great adventurous landing.

We eventually disembarked at the Malé Noovilu Sea Plane Terminal and had a short walk into the terminal building.

We were led back up to the St Regis Maldives Lounge Malé prior to transferring to our international flight home on Qatar Airways Q Suites Business Class Malé – Doha and Qatar Airways Q Suites Business Class Doha – San Francisco.

My Thoughts on Trans Maldivian Airways:

Our journey on Trans Maldivian Airways from Vommuli to Malé was an exceptionally scenic journey out of the St Regis Maldives. The views were spectacular and it marked one of my most favourite sea plane rides in the Maldives to date.

Make sure you get a window seat for this particular flight as you don’t want to be missing out on any views. The best views are on the right hand side of the aircraft, as you return back to Malé.

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If you’ve flown to the St Regis Maldives, did you enjoy the views ?

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