Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen has revealed that more than 67,000 passengers have travelled on the national airline Maldivian's wide-body aircraft since it entered service, with around 55,000 of them being tourists.

Responding to a question from North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim in Parliament, Minister Ameen said the aircraft has also transported Maldivians travelling to Saudi Arabia for Umrah and Hajj.

The Minister said the aircraft is currently operating flights to Australia and three destinations in China. It is also deployed on services to Saudi Arabia during the peak Umrah and Hajj seasons, while flights to the Indian cities of Trivandrum and Kochi are operated during school holidays. The Minister also added that the aircraft is also used on Bangladesh routes when passenger demand exceeds the capacity of Maldivian's narrow-body aircraft.

Minister Ameen said the primary purpose of acquiring the wide-body aircraft was to strengthen the Maldives' national security by ensuring the country has the capability to operate flights to destinations around the world during emergencies and other critical situations.

He noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, when global air travel was severely disrupted, the Maldives was able to continue operating flights, allowing essential supplies, including medicines, to be brought into the country.

The Minister also said President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's pledge to acquire a wide-body aircraft for the national airline was among his key electoral commitments. He added that recent global events, including the conflict in the Middle East, had further highlighted the importance of the Maldives having an aircraft capable of operating long-haul routes independently whenever required.

Describing the aircraft as an important national asset, Minister Ameen said it enables the Maldives to maintain connectivity with destinations around the world during times of crisis.

Following the arrival of the first wide-body aircraft in 2025, the Government is now working to acquire a second wide-body aircraft.