India’s national carrier, Air India, today celebrated 50 years of flight operations to the Maldives with a special ceremony held at Velana International Airport (VIA).

The milestone was marked with a traditional water salute accorded to the arriving Air India aircraft, symbolising five decades of uninterrupted connectivity between the two countries.

The anniversary flight carried 139 passengers to the Maldives.

Upon arrival, passengers were welcomed with roses and cookies in a gesture reflecting Maldivian hospitality and the longstanding partnership between the airline and the island nation.

The commemorative event highlighted the strong aviation ties linking the Maldives and India.

Air India holds the distinction of being the first Indian carrier to establish international air connectivity with the Maldives. Its inaugural flight to Malé took place on February 21, 1976.

As the airline marks its golden jubilee on the Maldives route, the occasion underscores half a century of sustained air travel links that have supported tourism, trade, and people-to-people connections between the two countries.