Saudi-based budget airline Flynas has begun operating flights to the Maldives.
Flynas launched flights to the Maldives in time for the summer season. A total of 96 passengers arrived in the Maldives on the maiden flight. The airline will operate flights to the Maldives three days a week and flights will be operated from Riyadh Airport to Velana International Airport (VIA) until October.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom said that the launch of these flights will boost the tourism sector in the country. He also said that these flights will also provide great convenience to the citizens of the Maldives enabling travel to Saudi Arabia at a cheaper price.
Also at the ceremony, Vice President of International Sales at Flynas Abdulilah Sulaiman Al Eidi said the flights will provide additional convenience to tourists from Saudi Arabia to the Maldives.
Saudia, the national airline of Saudi Arabia, was the only airline from the Gulf Kingdom operating flights to the Maldives before Flynas. Saudia resumed scheduled flights to the Maldives in 2021 after suspending its operations in the Maldives due to the lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Tourism, a total of 8,367 tourist arrivals visited the Maldives from Saudi Arabia in the first four months of the year. There were 10,666 tourists from Saudi Arabia during the same period last year.