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Chinese tourists at the Maldives' main Velana International Airport. (Atoll Times Photo/Abdulla Iyan)

No additional Chinese flights expected, MACL says

After a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, direct flights began operating between China and the Maldives on January 18.

27 April 2023

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), which operates Vela International Airport (VIA), has said that more Chinese flights are not expected to arrive in the Maldives in the coming months.

After a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, direct flights began operating between China and the Maldives on January 18. As of April 20, the Maldives has recorded: 

  • 24,501 Chinese tourists

  • That is 3.9% of the total tourist arrivals to the Maldives so far

  • China is currently ranked 27th among the top source markets

An MACL spokesperson told Atoll Times that Chinese airlines had not asked for additional slots for the coming months. He, however, added that a Hong Kong-based airline requested for slots.

Only two Chinese airlines currently operate flights to the Maldives, with Beijing Capital operating weekly charter flights and China Eastern operating scheduled flights to the Maldives on every Saturday.

Tourism minister Dr Abdulla Mausoom had earlier said that about 100,000 Chinese tourists will visit the Maldives this year. He added that Chinese tourists will start arriving more frequently in June.

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