Passengers interact with each other in front of a banner reading "Xiamen-Maldives officially sets sail". [Photo/Xiamen Daily]

On July 30, Xiamen Airlines' Boeing 787 aircraft took off from Xiamen for Velana International Airport in the Maldives, officially marking the launch of the Xiamen-Male regular route. The route is Xiamen Airlines' first to South Asia and the first regular direct flight from Fujian to the Maldives.

The Xiamen-Male route operates under flight number MF889/90. The schedule alternates weekly: in the first week, flights are on Tuesdays and Saturdays, while in the second week, there is one flight on Thursday. This alternating schedule repeats every two weeks. 

Departure flights on this route are scheduled from 12:10 pm to 9:05 pm Beijing time, and return flights are scheduled from 10:05 pm to 7 am Beijing time. With this staggered flight schedule, passengers are provided with a variety of travel options.

Previously, most travelers to the Maldives chose to fly via Shanghai. With the opening of the direct Xiamen-Male flight route, Fujian passengers can save at least three hours in travel time and reduce travel costs by 20-30 percent.

Additionally, passengers from Beijing, Kunming, Chengdu, Changsha, Hangzhou, and other cities can now transit through Xiamen Airlines to reach the Maldives. They can enjoy Xiamen Airlines' "through check-in" service at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, eliminating the need to retrieve and recheck luggage. 

The opening of the direct Xiamen-Male flight route is a significant measure taken by Xiamen Airlines in response to the Belt and Road Initiative. This route will further promote exchanges and cooperation between Fujian and the Maldives in trade, investment, cultural tourism, and other areas.