Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives, has reported strong passenger demand for its seasonal international services to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok during the recent holiday travel period, with the routes operating at high capacity and most flights running full. The airline said the seasonal services were introduced to support peak holiday travel and were well received by Maldivian travellers throughout the season, reflecting growing interest in convenient regional connections for short leisure breaks, business travel, shopping trips and onward journeys during the school holiday and year-end period. According to Maldivian, more than 2,120 passengers travelled on the Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok routes over the season, underlining sustained demand for nearby destinations that offer a broad range of travel experiences while remaining within comfortable flight times for Maldivian passengers.
The airline noted that it increases both domestic and international frequencies each year during school holidays to provide greater travel opportunities for the public, and the performance of the Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok services reinforced its demand-led approach to network planning during peak periods. By aligning capacity with seasonal travel patterns, Maldivian aims to improve availability during the busiest times of the year, support smoother travel planning for families and professionals, and enhance connectivity between the Maldives and key regional hubs. The airline said the strong results from these services demonstrate the increasing popularity of regional destinations among local travellers and the value of scheduling additional flights when demand rises, particularly during major holiday windows.
Beyond Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, Maldivian said it also strengthened its wider international network by increasing flight frequencies to Trivandrum and Cochin in response to demand, with some services operated using larger aircraft to expand seat capacity and enhance passenger service. Additional flights were also operated to Jeddah to facilitate Umrah travel during the holiday season, supporting travellers who prefer to undertake religious journeys during a period when families are able to travel together. The airline’s broader capacity adjustments across international routes were designed to respond to evolving travel needs while maintaining service quality as passenger volumes rise.
Across its domestic network, Maldivian said more than 500 additional flights were operated from mid-December through January to accommodate increased passenger movement during the holidays, with further services planned in the coming weeks. The expanded domestic schedule supported travel between islands during a period of heightened mobility, enabling residents to visit family, access services, and connect onward to international departures. The airline also reported higher activity levels in its seaplane operations, which were expanded to support tourist transfers and elevated resort movement during one of the busiest periods of the year for the Maldives tourism sector. With resort arrivals typically peaking during the year-end season, the additional seaplane capacity helped strengthen last-mile connectivity for international visitors, supporting efficient transfers, improved arrival experiences and smoother resort operations across multiple atolls.
Overall, Maldivian said the holiday season reflected steady demand across its international, domestic and seaplane operations, demonstrating the airline’s ability to scale services and deploy capacity where it is most needed. Looking ahead, the airline said it will continue to plan flight schedules based on market demand and introduce targeted seasonal services, while further strengthening its international, domestic and seaplane operations to meet future transport needs and support the Maldives’ growing travel and tourism ecosystem.
advertisment
advertisment
