Three Chinese Airlines To Re-Commence Flights To The Maldives This January

Wednesday 4th of January 2023

For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began, Chinese tourists are preparing to enter the Maldives as three airlines from the country make plans to recommence flights to the sunny isles. After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the three airlines returning to the Maldivian skies are Beijing Capital Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines.

The recommencement of direct flights to the Maldives was announced following the Chinese government’s decision to slacken Covid-19 restrictions in the country and open its international borders. Prior to the pandemic, the Chinese market reigned the charts in Maldives with the market placed as the top source market for the Maldives. India currently resides the spot, accounting for the highest number of tourist arrivals during the last year.

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) in charge of running the operations at Velana International Airport (VIA) stated that Beijing Capital Airlines will be making a debut in the airport on January 18th with four weekly frequencies planned at the moment. The airline will be providing a seasonal service between January 18th to February 22nd of 2023 from Beijing Daxing International Airport to VIA. Commercial class aircrafts with 306 seats will be used for the flights.

The China Eastern Airlines will be resuming flights on January 28th and will offering scheduled flights till March 25th of 2023. A single weekly frequency will be seen between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and VIA and will operated on Airbus A330-200 aircraft, accommodating up to 232 people. Moreover, Hong Kong Airlines will also be reinstating flights during the month with flights scheduled till March 23. Three weekly frequencies will be operated on 292-seat aircraft of the airline.

Following China’s easing of Covid-19 restrictions, the Ambassador of China to the Maldives, Her Excellency Wang Lixin stated that Maldives is among the most preferred destinations for Chinese tourists and that the outbound of tourists will be resumed in a coherent manner. The loosened restrictions will allow visitors holding a work or student visa to enter the country and quarantine restrictions will be lifted as well. Despite this, those travelling to China must produce a negative PCR test result 48 hours prior to departure.