Etihad Airways appoints new sales agent for Maldives

National airlines of United Arab Emirates (UAE), Etihad Airways has appointed a new general sales agent for Maldives – Aviation Services Private Limited.

Etihad started direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Maldives in November, 2011.

The announcement of a new sales agent was announced during the function held this Monday morning at Hotel Jen to celebrate Etihad’s five-year anniversary in Maldives.

Aviation Services Private Limited is a subsidiary of Sri Lankan company, Hemas Group. Its business partner in Maldives is BestBuy Maldives.

Hemas Group is Maldivian’s, Malaysia Airlines’ and Emirate’s general sales agent in Sri Lanka.

Speaking during the function this Monday, Managing Director of Aviation Services, Malinga Gunaratna said Hames Group had always had close business ties with Maldives. And that the partnership with Emirates provided opportunity to further strengthen the ties.

“We have especially gained a good opportunity to learn more about the Maldivian market,” said Gunaratna.

Etihad operates in Maldives using a wide-body aircraft – Airbus A330.

Gunaratna said that Etihad needed more support from its partners to continue operating the

aircraft in Maldives, and appealed to passenger sales agents of Etihad to expand their business.

The function was attended by UAE’s ambassador to Maldives, Abul Hamid Abdul Fattah Kazim Al Mulla as well as heads of the Maldivian aviation industry.