Malaysia

Popular budget airline from Malaysia, Air Asia has proposed to the Civil Aviation to commence flights to the Maldives.

Chief Executive Officer of Civil Aviation Hussain Jaleel said today that a team from Air Asia visited the Maldives last week and expressed interest in commencing flights between Kuala Lumpur and Maldives, and to start these flights already in July.

Jaleel said that the biggest budget airline in Asia wished to start their long haul service, Asia X flights to the Maldives.

“Schedules have to be sent before they start the service, and airport arrangements also have to be made,” he said.

Sun Online understands that the airline would conduct ticket sales for its flights via the internet.

An official of MACL said that a team from Asia X visited the Maldives about commencing flights in August, and that they had requested officials of MACL for times regarding the schedule.

“They have asked for a time slot in the morning. We are in discussion with the airline in relation to this matter,” he said.

He said that Air Asia will operate flights on A330 aircrafts four times per week between Male’-Colombo and Colombo-Kuala Lumpur.

“They have said that they will make arrangements to facilitate very low-cost flights to the Maldives. Discussions are ongoing about arrangements we have to make on our side,” he said.

Air Asia operates flights to several destinations in Asia as well as Australia. Tickets of Air Asia are cheaper if purchased in advance, than tickets of other airlines.