Maldivian commences flights to China

Maldivian, the country’s national airline, has commenced flights to China last night.

The first flight of passengers from the Chinese city of Chongqing were greeted at the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport last night by the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Ahmed Adheeb, Minister of Defence and National Security Colonel (Rtd) Mohamed Nazim, the Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives Mr. Yu Hongyao, the Managing Director of Maldivian Abdul Haris, Ambassador at Large Abdul Azeez Yousuf and senior officials from Maldivian and the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).

Managing Director of Maldivian Abdul Haris said that the commencement of Maldivian’s new route to China will strengthen the relationship between the two countries. It is a step towards bringing the two countries together, he said

“Maldives has always tried to maintain a close relationship with China. In the past, Maldives has received immense aid from China in terms of economic and cultural development,” Haris said. “Even though we’re starting off with one flight per week between Male’ and Chongqing, we’re trying to increase the frequency to two flights per week within the next two to three months. This new route between China and the Maldives is part of Maldivian’s plan to bring the two countries closer together.”

Haris said that the first flight from China landed at full capacity last night.

The aircrafts used by Maldivian in the Male’-China route holds 14 business class seats, 18 economy premier seats and 120 economy class seats.

Speaking at last night’s event, Defence Minister Nazim also described the new connection to China is a step towards strengthening relations between the two countries, especially in the development of economic and tourism related bonds.

“While China is one of our most important markets in terms of tourism, Maldivian’s new flights will further develop relations between the two countries and will add new momentum to the development of the Maldivian economy,” Nazim said.

Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives Mr. Yu Hongyao noted the the commencement of the new route holds historical significance as it will be marked as the day in which new efforts were undertaken to enhance aviation cooperation between the two countries.

He also noted that China has catered the highest total number of tourists to the Maldives in the past three years and that the new flights will foster friendships between the people of the two countries.

Stating the details, Yu Hongyao noted that the Maldives received over 230,000 tourist from China in 2012, an additional 114,000 tourists within the first five months of 2013, which is a 56.1 percent increase in arrivals compared to the first five months of 2012. He said that he hopes for the arrivals to hit the 300,000 mark by the end of 2013.