Maldivian receives its first widebody
January 6, 2025
Maldivian is the flag carrier airline of the Maldives, and is based at Velana International Airport, Malé. It serves as the airline division of Island Aviation Services. Acquisition of a wide-body airliner and expanding operations by Maldivian Airlines was pledged by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, and plans for Maldivian to commence direct Airbus A330 operations to China were originally announced in 2019, aiming to begin flights in early 2020.
The second hand A330, previously operated by Airhub Airlines (as 9H-PAX from September 2022 to July 2023) and before that by KLM (as PH-AOM from October 2010 to October 2020) was flown from Singapore to Malé by an all Maldivian crew.
The aircraft was welcomed with a water salute from the airport’s fire brigade, and an air show over Malé and Hulhumalé, featuring Maldivian’s new Airbus A330, two Twin Otter floatplanes and four ATR aircraft.
Maldivian Airlines currently operates flights to Trivandrum, Cochin, and Bangalore in India; Dhaka in Bangladesh; and Colombo in Sri Lanka. It is planning to use its new A330 on new routes to China, with Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai being considered as destinations.
