Hong Kong Airlines has resumed its scheduled flights to the Maldives, connecting Hong Kong to Velana International Airport (VIA). A special ceremony was organised at VIA to warmly receive the incoming tourists.
The airline will use Airbus A330 aircrafts with a passenger capacity of 292. It will also operate flights to the Maldives three times a week. Currently hosting 209 tourists, Hong Kong Airlines has a history with the Maldives dating back to its charter flights in 2011. Although scheduled flights commenced in 2018, they were temporarily suspended in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The resumption of scheduled flights aligns with Hong Kong Airlines' strategy to boost tourist arrivals from China to the Maldives. With this development, the number of airlines connecting the Maldives to China has increased to four, including Hong Kong Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, China Eastern, and Beijing Capital Airlines.
In response to the initiative, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has urged the government to collaborate in positioning China as the top tourism market for the Maldives. The government has set ambitious goals, aiming to double the number of Chinese tourists visiting the Maldives, aligning with broader efforts to enhance the country's tourism industry.