Korean Air has begun operating a new thrice-weekly service to the Maldives via Sri Lanka, which should provide a significant boost to tourism ties between the countries. The flight is operated by the Seoul Incheon–based carrier’s Airbus A330 aircraft, which has a capacity for 276 passengers. Recent data show around 30,000 Koreans visiting the Maldives per annum, while Sri Lanka hands out only 6,000 entry stamps to Korean passport-holders each year—a figure that looks set to rise with this new service. Flight KE473 departs Seoul at 10:40 p.m. and arrives in Colombo at 4:10 a.m. the next day. The flight then continues its journey from Colombo at 5:40 a.m., arriving in Male at 6:40 a.m. the same day. Return leg KE 474 departs Male at 3:30 p.m. and arrives in Colombo at 5:30 p.m.; the flight then departs from Colombo at 6:50 p.m. and arrives in Seoul at 6:10 a.m. the following day.