Malaysia's Batik Airlines is due to commence flight operations to the Maldives next month.
Batik Air Malaysia will use a Boeing 737 to operate flights to Velana International Airport starting May 1.
Maldives Airports Company Ltd (MACL) said Batik Airlines will start direct flights between Malaysia and the Maldives every week from next month. The airline will also schedule transit flights from Malaysia to the Maldives via Sri Lanka. The transit flight will operate daily. The carrier between Maldives and Malaysia has a capacity of 180 passengers.
Batik Air's CEO, Mushafiz bin Mustafa Bakri, said the airline will continue to expand its flights to new destinations in the future.
In addition to Batik Airlines, Saudi budget airline Flynas will also launch flight operations next month. Hong Kong Airlines will also be commencing flights to the Maldives starting in July. It will be the third airline to operate flights between China and the Maldives.
There are currently 36 airlines operating scheduled flights to Maldives. The new airlines will also be offering charter flights to the Maldives from time to time. Titan Air is also scheduled to launch charter flights on April 21. Charter flights are also available from other European countries during the peak season.