AirAsia has unveiled plans to launch a new service allowing Thai travellers to fly direct to the Maldives.

Commencing on 11 August 2017, the low-cost carrier will operate daily flights to the Indian Ocean archipelago, direct from Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport.

Flights will be operated by Thai AirAsia using an all-economy Airbus A320 aircraft, and promotional one-way introductory rates start from just THB1,990 (US$58).

“Many peoples’ perception of the Maldives is that it is costly and only caters to certain types of travellers, but today AirAsia is launching it so ‘Everyone Can Fly’ to the country to find out that it offers a wide variety of accommodations from guest houses to opulent resorts,” said Santisuk Klongchaiya, Thai AirAsia’s director of commercial.

“Without the need for a visa (for Thai nationals), travelling to the Maldives is now easier than ever and we are confident the route will see robust growth,” he added.

Under the new schedule, Thai AirAsia’s flights will depart Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport daily at 0930 and arrive at Male International Airport at 1140. The return services will then take off at 1230 and land back in Bangkok at 1900.

Thai AirAsia will become the third airline serving the route, following Bangkok Airways and Maldivian, which started flying to the Thai capital on 1 June 2017. The new route also complements AirAsia’s existing daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and the Maldives.