Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives, has announced plans to launch direct flights to four major cities in China, a move expected to boost both tourism and trade between the two nations.
The announcement was made at a ceremony held in Beijing, China, by Mohamed Ameen, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation. At the event, Minister Ameen revealed that the new direct flights will connect Velana International Airport (VIA) in Malé with Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Xian, using a wide-body Airbus A330-200 aircraft.
The launch of these new routes highlights Maldivian’s commitment to strengthening tourism and transport links between the Maldives and China, the country’s largest source of tourists. A presentation during the ceremony emphasized the potential for increased collaboration in tourism, trade, and transport, along with details about the new aircraft that will soon join Maldivian’s fleet.
With China being a key market for the Maldives tourism industry, these direct flights are expected to provide a significant boost to the tourism and transport sectors. The new connections will offer convenient access for Chinese tourists looking to visit the Maldives, as well as improved links for Maldivian businesses engaged in trade with China.
Currently, Maldivian operates several international routes, including flights to Dhaka, Bangladesh; Trivandrum, Cochin, and Bangalore in India; and Colombo, Sri Lanka. The airline has further plans to expand its network, with initiatives underway to establish connections in Europe and Africa. Efforts are already in progress to secure agents from these regions to facilitate the expansion.
With this move, Maldivian is positioning itself to play an even more pivotal role in the global aviation market, connecting the Maldives to some of the world’s most prominent destinations.
