Discussions have been held on launching new airline services to the Maldives during the Routes Asia 2026 forum held in Xi’an, China.

According to the International Halal Tourism Organization (IHTO), productive meetings were conducted with several international carriers, including Riyadh Air, Vietnam Airlines, and Cebu Pacific, as well as leading Chinese airlines.

IHTO stated that a number of these airlines have expressed interest in introducing flights to the Maldives in the future.

The forum also provided an opportunity to promote the Maldives as a world-class tourist destination and a rapidly growing aviation market in the Indian Ocean.

Officials noted that such engagements are expected to support increased connectivity and boost tourist arrivals to the country.