Maldivian is poised to significantly increase its contribution to the Maldives’ tourism sector with the launch of direct flights to China in 2025. The airline’s new wide-body Airbus A330-200 aircraft will operate services to three major Chinese cities—Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu—starting in early 2025.
With China being one of the Maldives’ largest source markets for tourism, with 261,000 Chinese visitors to the islands this year alone, the new flights are expected to carry up to 60,000 passengers annually.
“With these flights to China, we will be able to carry 60,000 passengers a year as planned. This will also bring financial benefits. And the expansion of our services to the world will also help the airline’s growth,” said Maldivian’s Deputy Managing Director, Ali Saleem.
The new routes will not only enhance the Maldives’ accessibility for leisure travellers but also help boost the local economy by attracting more visitors from China, a key market. This expansion is a vital step in Maldivian’s broader strategy to develop a global network, ultimately paving the way for further international routes, including plans for Europe.
