Maldivian Wants To Acquire A Boeing 787, Or Something

Only destination (that’s not vanity) I can think of is Jeddah for Haj.

Geopolitics might explain this one a bit better. The Maldives have an icy relationship with India, since the Maldives are Muslim-majority and India is such a large neighbor. The Maldives are attempting to align themselves more closely with China to build some protection from India. There have been public spats recently between the Maldives and India that made it onto the New York Times earlier this week.

Given the context, a brazen, low-substance move like this makes a bit more sense. The Maldives's state-owned airlines signal that they can be capable of nonstops to a friendly Chinese government and European tourists, without going through Indian airspace.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/08/world/asia/india-maldives-modi.html

Clearly this is a trial to evaluate the A330 v 787 before putting in an order for 20+ Widebodies

@Ben
Speaking of Beond......Seems you missed the story. I think beond ain't doing so well.
Instead of operating 9 flights from MUC in Jan they're now planning on operating just one. Then from ZRH 6 instead of the planned 9.
Don't forget that this is the high season of tourists from Europe to the Maldives.

There have been reports of just 1 or 2 passengers on their flights from MUC. Allow me to post the link (in German):
https://www.aerotelegraph.com/beond-streicht-im-januar-fluege-ab-muenchen-und-zuerich

Most of the Russian oligarchs who favor the Maldives arrive there in yachts, but maybe they want to charter a jumbo for a nonstop trip back to Moscow occasionally.

Maybe they want more Chinese tourists.. Indians are starting to boycott them after derogatory comments by Maldives ministers towards Indian prime minister... a lot of India vs China politics in play.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-67942642

Yes I made the similar comment. They are also upset at India's relationship with Israel. Modi was promoting Lakshwadeep islands of India which are close to Maldives. If they actually develop these islands more Indians would visit instead of Maldives.

I'm pretty much with @tom. They want to try out some options and get some infrastructure going before buying a number of one specific plane type.

@Ben - You keep using the word vanity. Vanity, on the level of a nation-state, becomes prestige. I think that might be a better fit.

HALLELUJAH . . . that woukd be a blessing for all other Tourists on the Maldive Islands. I remember the days, when Mauritius, Fiji and even the Maldives in the early 90's were not seeing these Indian decent people and all of these islands were so much cleaner. It's a historic pain, having Indian people anywhere and getting used to there filthy way of dealing with everyday life.
Hawaii will be next, i'm in shock to see the hordes of these Indians going there in the last 3 years. .... most shocking, is there way of dealing with waste and dirt, . . . just drop it seems to be there sheme, of a majority of these people, just like at home.
Maldives woukd not miss them at all and i woukd not either!
Maldives once was dominated by Italians and Germans, all they wanted, was natural Islands, no hordes of Indian families that mess things up even worse, then most Russian folks did with the mostly intact underwaterworld.
Pretending they are certified Scuba Divers, but corals didn't mean anything to them!
I had my pers. experience and they ALL shocked me to the bone.
Any country getting uverrun by Indian National people, will pay badly for it later on! (mentioned islands above are the best example for it)

I wouldn’t exactly call the Maldives a seasonal destination. Yes, it has a Northern Winter peak but it is a year round destination and they do well for it even in the wet Northern summer season.
I would call the Greek Islands a seasonal destination, but not the Maldives.

There is a horrible and racist tirade by someone called STEFFL as a 'featured comment'. I am surprised that it got through Lucky's filters.

To introduce the possibility of WFM?

That would be one beautiful 787.