Heathrow to see new link to Maldives

Heathrow Airport will soon host new flights to the luxury holiday location of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, according to reports.

Sri Lankan Airlines is set to offer new flights from the London hub to the island nation from October 26th.

Four weekly return flights will be available from Heathrow to Male, the republic's capital city, two of which will be direct, reports TravelMole.

Chanaka Olagama, Sri Lankan Airlines' UK and Ireland manager, said there was a need for a new service to the popular holiday destination.

He added: "Customers' needs are our priority and we believe that this new direct service will provide a time-effective way to travel in style and comfort to their paradise location."

The Maldives comprises 26 atolls, and more than 1,000 separate islands, which are located about 700km south-west of Sri Lanka.

Tourism is one of the most valuable sectors of the Maldives economy and hundreds of thousands of travellers flock to its beaches and luxury resorts every year.