BEOND apologises for chief's 'inaccurate' national carrier remark

BEOND, world's first luxury airline for leisure travel being launched by Maldives' SIMDI Group and UAE-based ARABESQUE, has apologised following its chief executive's "inaccurate" remarks that the airline has been granted national carrier status by the Maldives government.

In an interview with Richard Quest on CNN's Quest Means Business programme on Thursday, BEOND CEO Tero Taskila said that the airline has been given the national carrier status by the Maldivian government. With the national carrier status, the airline will get preferential rights and privileges for international flight operations to 80 countries that the Maldives has air services agreements with. 

The remarks have been met with criticism, especially in the domestic aviation sector.

Maldivian, operated by the fully government-owned by Island Aviation Services Limited (IAS) is the Maldives' flag carrier.

In a brief statement posted on social media on Sunday, BEOND apologised for the "inaccurate terms used to refer to our status in the Maldives".

The airline acknowledged that Maldivian is the country's national carrier.

"Beond has not been granted this status, and no such discussion occurred with any authority," the statement read.

"We hope to continue working in full cooperation with the government, tourism industry, concerned authorities, and all the Maldivian airlines to improve tourism and betterment of the economy of the country."