Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives has plans to introduce scheduled flights to South Africa.
With its first wide-body aircraft, an Airbus A330-200, Maldivian aims to launch scheduled services to new destinations in Asia, Europe and Africa.
AIRBUS A330-200 AIRCRAFT
The acquisition of its first wide-body aircraft will enhance Maldivian’s long-haul flight capabilities. It will allow for route expansion to destinations in China, Europe and South Africa
The Airbus A330-200 will thus enable Maldivian to meet the growing demand for travel between the Maldives and key tourism source markets.
In fact, the aircraft’s passenger capacity and extended range will allow Maldivian to serve international routes better and meet the growing demand for travel between the Maldives and various destinations.
The Airbus A330-200 is configured with a three-class cabin, seating up to 264 passengers.
The aircraft offers 18 seats in Business Class, 36 in Premium Economy, and 210 in Economy Class.
NEW AIRCRAFT, NEW ROUTES
Airways reports that Maldivian has inaugurated its first Airbus A330-200, enabling it to add long-haul services to its route network.
The airline, which started operations 25 years ago, with a fleet of two aircraft, now has 25 aircraft.
This includes an A320, eight Dash 8 aircraft, eleven DHC-6 Twin Otters, four ATRs, as well as the A330-200.
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MALDIVIAN GROWS ROUTE NETWORK
Adding an Airbus A330-200 is a milestone for Maldivian, enabling it to grow its global presence.
Ibrahim Iyas, managing director of Island Aviation Services, which operates Maldivian, said the new aircraft would facilitate the carrier’s growth strategy and impact the Maldives’ tourism industry.
“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.” Iyas said.
MALDIVIAN EXPANSION INTO CHINA, EUROPE AND SOUTH AFRICA
The addition of the new aircraft will indeed enable Maldivian to expand its global reach.
It currently serves 16 domestic and international destinations. Its regional services include destinations in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka
Initially, the airline will launch flights to three destinations in China. It will offer services to Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Chengdu.
However, the airline also plans to expand its services to key destinations in Europe and South Africa in the future.
DIRECT FLIGHTS TO SOUTH AFRICA
Maldives has long been a desirable destination for South Africans.
The idyllic island archipelago located in the Indian Ocean became popular in the early 1990s when now-defunct South African tour operator, Logans International Tours, marketed holiday packages to the islands.
Logans used charter flights to get passengers to and from the Maldives.
The journey takes around 8 hours flying time from Johannesburg.
South African Airways has also previously connected South Africa with the Maldives, through charter operations.
