Maldives.net.mv – Cathay Pacific airlines has started direct flights to the Maldives. First Cathay Pacific flight to Maldives CX601 arrived on Monday morning. Aircraft was welcomed with traditional water cannon salute by fire tenders and senior members of government and tourism industry. Arriving passengers were greeted with traditional Bodu Beru music and flower bouquets.

The international flag carrier of Hong Kong will fly nonstop, 4-day-a-week service from Hong Kong International Airport to Ibrahim Nasir International Airport in Malé, on Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

Its chief executive John Slosar said Maldives is the perfect getaway for holidaymakers from Hong Kong and around the world. “Maldives is a chain of islands located in the middle of the Indian Ocean whose beauty is unsurpassed, with pristine white-sand beaches, azure seas and amazing coral reefs. It’s considered by many travellers as the perfect place for a honeymoon,” he said.

The new Maldives-Hong Kong flights will allow Cathay Pacific passengers to make easier connections to the carrier’s extensive Asian network, including 22 destinations in mainland China. Cathay Pacific serves 168 destinations in 42 countries and territories on five continents, with a well-developed Asian network. The airline serves a number of gateway cities in North America and Europe, with easy connections with its Oneworld and codeshare partners.

Cathay Pacific was singled out for “world’s best cabin staff” in 2013 by Skytrax, a British-based independent airline rating service.