The world's largest seaplane operator, TMA, has imposed salary cuts for its staff due to declining revenues stemming from the Middle East war. 

According to Mihaaru News, salary reductions taking effect today vary across different staff categories. 

The reductions are to be in effect for a period of three months. 

TMA's management notified staff that salaries will be raised again once tourist arrivals increase and TMA's revenues see a rise. 

According to Tourism Ministry statistics, tourist arrivals in April saw a 26 percent year-on-year decrease, with March similarly showing a 20 percent drop. Total tourist arrivals recorded so far this year also shows a 5 percent decrease compared to the same period last year. 

TMA's decision to enforce salary cuts come at a time when Maldives has been facing numerous flight cancellations and lower numbers of tourist arrivals over the past two months. 

Before reducing staff salaries, TMA implemented several operational cost-cutting measures, but these steps alone were insufficient to address the financial pressures of the present situation. 

TMA currently employs over 200 pilots, with total staff numbers exceeding a thousand. 

Besides Maldivians, TMA employs staff from over 20 other countries. 

Even the most junior ranking captains on its staff earn salaries of approximately USD 6000. Senior captains, meanwhile, earn close to USD 12,000 a month.