A wide-body aircraft has landed at Maafaru International Airport for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the airport’s development. The Emirates Boeing 777 touched down as part of a crucial certification process, according to a statement from the Maldives Ministry of Transport.

The Maafaru Airport, funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund and opened in December 2019, has frequently hosted private jets owned by wealthy tourists. However, this marks the first landing of a wide-body aircraft, highlighting the airport’s evolving role in Maldives’ air transport infrastructure.

According to aviation platform Aviates Maldives, this landing represents a key phase in Maafaru’s journey toward becoming a central air hub. Three core factors were evaluated during this stage:

• Runway capacity testing to ensure durability and safety
• Ground handling assessment covering fuel services, passenger handling, and cargo operations
• Navigation and air traffic control evaluation as per global aviation standards

Maafaru Airport, managed by Island Aviation Services (IAS)—the operator of the national airline Maldivian—is already being eyed for expansion. The company has opened calls for terminal expansion proposals multiple times, with the latest bid window for foreign and local contractors closing on April 17.

This follows previous announcements by IAS: a consultancy call in 2021, recruitment of contractors in 2023, and a cross-subsidy scheme introduced the same year under tourism land lease regulations.

The runway, originally designed to accommodate aircraft like the Airbus A320, is currently being expanded by the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) to support larger aircraft, such as the Boeing 777.