Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen has stated that investing from the state budget into the wide-body operations of the national airline, Maldivian, does not represent a financial loss for the company, and providing public funds for such large-scale investments is not an issue.

Maldivian introduced a wide-body aircraft and officially launched its services 16 months ago in 2025.

Minister Ameen made these remarks during today's sitting of the People's Majlis while responding to a question regarding wide-body operations posed by the MDP Member of Parliament for the Galolhu Uthuru constituency, Mohamed Ibrahim. The MP questioned the minister by pointing out that state-owned enterprises are financially classified into self-sustaining corporations and budget-supported entities, noting that Island Aviation Services—which was previously self-sustaining—became a budget-dependent entity in the third quarter of 2025 as a direct result of its wide-body operations.

In response to the query, the minister stated that budget support is essential for such massive capital undertakings. He explained that this practice is not unique to the Maldives, noting that major airlines in India also receive substantial government backing. He added that providing financial assistance to secure capital investments does not mean the company’s overall finances are running at a loss, emphasizing that the most critical factor to consider is the broader economic contribution.

The minister further noted that airlines worldwide generally operate on thin profit margins. However, he emphasized that the national airline plays a pivotal role in expanding the country's tourism industry while also facilitating convenient travel for its citizens. He concluded by highlighting that maintaining such long-range aircraft, which can be operated independently to fly anywhere as required, is highly crucial for national security.