The national airline, Maldivian, has commenced operations to Cochin and Trivandrum in India using its first wide-body aircraft, the Airbus A330. The inaugural flight to Cochin International Airport landed yesterday afternoon.
Cochin and Trivandrum are key destinations for many Maldivians, particularly those seeking medical treatment. Previously, flights on these routes were operated using the ATR 72 and Airbus A320. The introduction of the A330 aims to accommodate the growing number of passengers travelling to these cities.
Maldivian’s Managing Director, Ibrahim Iyas, stated that the decision to deploy the A330 on these routes was driven by high demand. He added that larger aircraft would continue to be used in the future for flights with increased passenger numbers.
The A330, which was delivered to Maldivian in January, has 264 seats and is also used for direct flights to three destinations in China. The airline is currently working towards acquiring another wide-body aircraft as part of its plans to expand operations to European destinations.
