Maldivian Airlines marked a milestone with its first flight from China, carrying 180 tourists on an Airbus A330 to the Maldives. The flight, which arrived this morning from Chengdu, China, brought a total of 192 passengers to Male, filling 70% of the aircraft's 260-seat capacity. In addition to passengers, the flight also delivered 10 tons of cargo.
Upon arrival at Velana International Airport, the tourists were welcomed with traditional Maldivian celebrations, including boduberu (drums), cultural dance, and red cold towels. Maldivian Airlines also presented special gifts to passengers alongside their luggage.
The Airbus A330 is scheduled to operate flights from Male to three major Chinese cities: Chengdu, Beijing, and Shanghai. The second flight, departing tomorrow, will travel from Beijing to Male, while the Shanghai-Male flight is set for January 27. Tickets for these routes are now available at special prices, with round-trip fares set as follows:
- Chengdu - Male - Chengdu: $688
- Beijing - Male - Beijing: $788
- Shanghai - Male - Shanghai: $777
The launch of these flights comes as part of Maldivian Airlines' expansion into the Chinese market, a key source of tourism. Last year, China contributed the highest number of tourists to the Maldives, with over 263,000 visitors. This year, 15,891 tourists have already arrived from China.
Maldivian Airlines expressed that the first flight to China has been a success, with high demand for the Beijing and Shanghai routes. Looking ahead, the airline plans to expand its network to Europe with the same wide-body aircraft.