Maldivian launches wide-body aircraft service

Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives, officially launched its wide-body aircraft service on Monday with the arrival of an Airbus A330 at Velana International Airport (VIA). This marks the airline’s first operation of a wide-body aircraft.

The launch event began with an air show featuring other Maldivian flights before the Airbus A330 landed on the runway. The crew was welcomed by President Mohamed Muizzu and Ibrahim Ghiyas, Managing Director of Island Aviation Services, the operator of Maldivian. After greeting the crew, President Muizzu toured the aircraft.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ghiyas stated that the introduction of the wide-body aircraft is a significant milestone for Maldivian, enabling the airline to expand its international operations.

Direct flights to three cities in China—Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu—will begin this month, fulfilling a key part of the airline’s expansion strategy. Ghiyas highlighted that Maldivian employees were part of the crew operating the new aircraft.

Details shared during the event include:

• The aircraft has a total of 264 seats across first class, business class, and economy class.
• The wide-body aircraft can transport up to 10 tons of air cargo, opening new opportunities for businesses.
• With the addition of a second aircraft, the airline expects to bring over 65,000 tourists to the Maldives annually.

The decision to introduce wide-body aircraft was made by the cabinet in December 2023 to fulfil a presidential pledge. The agreement for the aircraft was signed in July 2024.