The national airline, Maldivian, announced plans to launch direct flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Xi'an starting next month, enhancing the Maldives' connectivity with China and aiming to strengthen ties between the two nations while boosting tourism and trade.

The announcement was made during a ceremony held in Beijing, where Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation, Mohamed Ameen, highlighted the significant impact these direct routes will have on the Maldives' tourism and transportation sectors. The initiative is expected to attract more Chinese tourists, a crucial market for the Maldivian tourism industry.

At the event, a presentation was delivered outlining strategies to promote tourism and trade between the Maldives and China. The presentation also showcased the capabilities of the A330-200 wide-body aircraft, which will be deployed for these flights.

Maldivian is also looking to expand its flight network to Europe and Africa in the future. Efforts are underway to build partnerships with agents and establish relationships in these regions.

Currently, the national carrier operates international flights to Dhaka, Trivandrum, Cochin, and Bengaluru, as well as Colombo.