Maldivian’s A330 completes inaugural flight from China to Maldives with 192 passengers

Maldivian Airlines has successfully completed its first direct flight from China to the Maldives using its new Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft. The inaugural flight, arriving from Chengdu, China, carried 192 passengers and 10 tonnes of cargo.

The airline, which recently resumed direct flights to China, is deploying its A330 to enhance travel connectivity. The A330 features 264 seats, including 18 in business class, 36 in premium economy, and 210 in economy.

Maldivian plans to serve three destinations in China with the A330: Chengdu, Beijing, and Shanghai. Tickets are being offered at special rates to encourage travellers, with return fares set at $688 for Chengdu, $788 for Beijing, and $777 for Shanghai flights.

The second flight, scheduled for Beijing, will take off tomorrow, while a flight to Shanghai is set for Monday, January 27.

Ali Saleem, Deputy Managing Director of Maldivian Airlines, expressed optimism about the resumption of flights, stating, “The start has been very successful. The next two cities are Shanghai and Beijing. The flights are almost full.”

China has historically been a significant market for Maldivian tourism, with over 263,000 Chinese tourists visiting the Maldives last year. This year, 15,891 Chinese tourists have already arrived, and the numbers are expected to rise with the reintroduction of direct flights by Maldivian Airlines.

Looking ahead, Maldivian is gearing up for its expansion into Europe later this year. Another wide-body aircraft will join its fleet in October to support this plan.