With the debut of the Airbus A330-200, Maldivian, the Maldives’ national airline, has begun its first wide-body flights. The airline, which started out in 2000 with a small fleet of two aircraft, has expanded significantly since reaching this historic milestone.
Along with Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef, a number of government dignitaries, and senior officials, Maldivian President His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Muizzu graced the occasion by attending the special event held at Velana International Airport to celebrate this historic achievement. Maldivian, the Maldives’ national airline, is starting its first wide-body flights with the arrival of the Airbus A330-200, marking a significant milestone. In its 25 years of operation, the airline has achieved a major milestone with this addition of its fleet, increasing its ability to link the Maldives with more international locations and tourists from around the globe.
Mr. Ibrahim Iyas, the managing director of Island Aviation Services, emphasized the importance of the new aircraft in the company’s expansion strategy and its influence on the Maldives’ tourism sector at the occasion. He stated, “With the introduction of our very first wide-body aircraft, we are now poised to expand our international flight capacity, open new routes, and connect the Maldives to long-haul destinations. This transformative step will not only strengthen our position as a global airline but also play a pivotal role in boosting the Maldives’ tourism sector by making our islands more accessible to travellers from around the world.”
Speaking at the event, President Muizzu added that the second wide-body aircraft should be operational by October as the joint efforts of the Ministry of Finance, Island Aviation, and the Ministry of Transport approach completion.
With three cabin classes, the new Maldivian A330-200 aircraft can accommodate 264 passengers. All passengers will have a comfortable flight thanks to the aircraft’s 18 Business Class seats, 36 Premium Economy seats, and 210 Economy Class seats. The airline’s worldwide connectivity will be improved by the addition of direct flights to Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, three important Chinese cities, made possible by this aircraft. It is anticipated that this expansion will significantly strengthen the Maldives’ tourism sector by drawing more tourists from China and other countries.
With the launch of the wide-body Airbus A330-200, Maldivian will be able to fly substantially farther and faster. The airline intends to add more routes to important locations in South Africa and Europe. The airline will be able to better serve its international routes and satisfy the rising demand for travel between the Maldives, China, and popular tourist locations thanks to the new aircraft’s greater passenger capacity and longer range.
