Malaysian budget airline, Batik Air, has begun scheduled flights to Maldives.

Maldives Airports Company Ltd (MACL) said on Saturday that the first Batik Air flight landed at Velana International Airport at 2030hrs on Friday night. The flight was welcomed with a special water salute, MACL said.

Batik Air's first flight to Maldives carried 57 passengers.

Batik Air will have daily scheduled flights to the Maldives every day. As such, the airline will operate transit flights from Maldives to Malaysia via Sri Lanka. However, the airline is also planning to commence direct flights between Maldives and Malaysia next month as well.

Batik Air, which previously operated as Malindo, has begun travel to numerous destinations and offer great promotions.

MACL said Batik Air will use Boeing 737 aircrafts with a capacity of 180 passengers for flights to Maldives.