Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Ameen has announced that the government will reopen the Request for Proposals (RFP) for parties interested in providing helicopter services in the Maldives.

Minister Ameen made the announcement on Monday while responding to a question regarding delays in launching the planned helicopter service, which was first introduced in March last year.

He stated that a safety assessment had been conducted as part of the preparatory phase and underscored the importance of establishing helicopter operations to support key sectors such as emergency response and medical evacuation.

According to the minister, the seaplane industry in the Maldives is currently valued at around one billion dollars, although new investment in the sector has been relatively limited.

He noted that, beyond tax revenue, the state should aim to secure broader national benefits from such services.

He explained that the initial RFP process revealed several limitations that prevented the government from achieving an optimal service arrangement.

The minister confirmed that the RFP process has since been reviewed within the existing legal framework and that the government plans to reopen the bidding later this year, incorporating changes based on lessons learned from the initial phase.

Minister Ameen expressed confidence that helicopter operations could begin within a year after the relaunch of the RFP.

Helicopter services previously operated in the Maldives but were discontinued following a series of accidents.