Palma de Majorca, 16 December 2019

RIU customers in the Maldives can now enjoy the new seaplane service offered by Manta Air

  • The trip is short and comfortable, as it goes straight from the airport in the capital city of Malé, where international flights arrive, to the RIU hotels

RIU Hotels & Resorts guests can now use the seaplane service offered by our partner Manta Air to reach the chain’s hotels in the Maldives. Seaplanes have capacity for around 15 people and the journey lasts approximately 40 minutes.

On 19 November, the maiden flight landed at the RIU dock, located between the two hotels, where it was welcomed by the chain’s management team in the Maldives. After landing, the seaplane’s first passengers celebrated with a welcome cocktail, together with Manta Air staff, RIU staff and the local press.

This new seaplane route allows our guests to save time. Guests arrive at Malé Airport and take a bus to the seaplane terminal. From there, they take a flight that lasts just 40 minutes to drop them directly at the hotels’ reception.

This new service provides a more direct and comfortable way to get to RIU’s hotels in the Maldives that all our guests can enjoy. What’s more, the flight itself is a real luxury because of the amazing views that can be enjoyed during the journey.

The two RIU hotels in the Maldives, Riu Atoll and Riu Palace Maldivas, were opened in May this year and have four and five stars respectively. Both of them are on the Dhaalu Atoll and they both offer suites over the incredible Indian Ocean, as well as the chain’s hallmark 24-hour all-inclusive service.

About RIU Hotels & Resorts

The international RIU chain was founded in Mallorca by the Riu family in 1953 as a small holiday firm and is still owned by the family's third generation. The company specialises in holiday resorts and over 78% of its establishments offer its acclaimed All Inclusive by RIU service. With the inauguration of its first city hotel in 2010, RIU is expanding its range of products with its own line of city hotels called Riu Plaza. RIU Hotels & Resorts now has 97 hotels in 21 countries. In 2023, the chain welcomed 6,4 million guests and provided jobs for a total of 35,808  employees. RIU is currently the world's 36th ranked chain, one of the Caribbean's most popular, the largest in Spain in terms of revenue and the fourth largest in number of rooms.