Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) has decided to restore employee salaries to their previous levels and reimburse staff for amounts deducted following a temporary pay reduction introduced last month amid concerns over declining tourist arrivals.
The decision comes weeks after the world’s largest seaplane operator announced salary reductions for employees, citing a slowdown in tourism linked to instability in the Middle East and its impact on international travel demand.
According to information shared with staff, TMA has now reversed the measure and will refund the salary deductions that were applied during the period.
The airline initially introduced the salary adjustment on May 1, informing employees that the reduction would remain in effect for up to three months as the company responded to a drop in passenger volumes.
In a letter issued to employees at the time, TMA Chief Executive Officer A.U.M. Fawzy said a decline in tourist arrivals had resulted in fewer passengers requiring domestic transfers, directly affecting the company’s operations.
The letter explained that ongoing flight cancellations to the Maldives and weaker travel demand had contributed to the downturn, prompting management to take temporary cost-control measures.
TMA had also assured employees that salaries would be fully restored once tourist arrival figures recovered to levels comparable to those recorded in 2025.
The latest decision suggests that the company now sees conditions improving sufficiently to return to normal salary levels sooner than initially anticipated.
TMA’s move is expected to bring relief to employees who had been affected by the temporary pay cuts during a period of uncertainty in the tourism sector.
The Maldives’ tourism industry experienced fluctuations in visitor arrivals earlier this year, with operators citing the effects of geopolitical tensions in parts of the Middle East and broader changes in global travel patterns.
While TMA has now restored salaries and committed to reimbursing deducted amounts, another domestic aviation operator, Manta Air, which also implemented salary reductions in response to the slowdown, has not yet announced a similar decision.
As the primary provider of seaplane transfers in the Maldives, TMA plays a crucial role in transporting tourists between Velana International Airport and resort destinations across the country. The company operates one of the largest seaplane fleets in the world and is closely tied to the performance of the tourism industry, which remains the backbone of the Maldivian economy.
Industry observers say the airline’s decision may reflect growing confidence in the tourism sector’s recovery as arrival numbers continue to improve heading into the second half of the year.
