Month: January 2025

The Maldives Customs Seaport Division recently extended en-route clearance services to passengers and crew aboard the Crystal Symphony, marking the first cruise liner to visit the Maldives this year.

The vessel, which set sail from the Seychelles, arrived in the Maldives on Thursday. During its stopover, customs officers facilitated the clearance process for 216 passengers and 416 crew members, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience.

The Crystal Symphony is the third cruise liner to visit the Maldives this season. Earlier, the MS Norwegian Sky and MS Riviera brought thousands of tourists to the country late last month.

The MS Norwegian Sky, registered in the Bahamas, docked in Malé with 1,872 passengers, while the MS Riviera, registered in the Marshall Islands, arrived with 2,004 passengers.

These visits highlight the Maldives’ growing popularity as a cruise destination, contributing to the country’s thriving tourism industry.

Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives, reached a historic milestone on Monday by introducing its first wide-body aircraft, an Airbus A330, at Velana International Airport (VIA). This marks the airline’s entry into wide-body aircraft operations.

The launch event was a grand affair, starting with an air show featuring other Maldivian flights. The highlight was the Airbus A330’s arrival, greeted with much fanfare. President Mohamed Muizzu and Ibrahim Ghiyas, the Managing Director of Island Aviation Services, were present to welcome the crew. Following the warm reception, President Muizzu took a tour of the aircraft to experience its features firsthand.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ibrahim Ghiyas emphasized the significance of this achievement for the airline. He stated that introducing the wide-body aircraft is a major step forward, paving the way for Maldivian to expand its international routes and strengthen its presence in global markets.

As part of its expansion strategy, Maldivian is set to launch direct flights to three major Chinese cities—Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu—later this month. Ghiyas proudly noted that Maldivian’s own employees were part of the crew operating the new Airbus A330.

Key details about the aircraft and its role were shared during the event:

• The Airbus A330 accommodates 264 passengers across first class, business class, and economy class.
• It has the capacity to transport up to 10 tons of air cargo, offering new possibilities for trade and commerce.
• With the addition of a second wide-body aircraft, the airline aims to bring over 65,000 tourists to the Maldives each year.

This initiative fulfills a pledge made by the President and was approved by the cabinet in December 2023. The agreement to acquire the aircraft was finalized in July 2024, making this accomplishment a testament to the government’s commitment to enhancing the nation’s aviation sector.