The Maldives is preparing for stronger international air connectivity during the upcoming high tourism season, with seven additional airlines expected to begin operating services to the country as the Government intensifies efforts to strengthen access from key international markets and support continued growth across the tourism industry.
Minister of State for Tourism and Civil Aviation Dr Abdulla Niyaz said engagements undertaken at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) are expected to contribute to an increase in airline services from Middle Eastern countries to the Maldives during this year’s high season. Speaking in a special interview with PSM News at ATM, he highlighted air connectivity as one of the most important foundations of the Maldivian tourism industry and emphasised the Government’s continued work with airline partners and international tourism stakeholders.
The renewed focus on connectivity comes after regional developments in the Middle East affected international air travel from 1 March, reducing the number of journeys between Gulf destinations and the Maldives. According to Dr Niyaz, the disruption resulted in a significant number of flight cancellations involving major carriers serving the Maldives, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai and Air Arabia.
The effect has also been reflected in daily international flight frequencies. Dr Niyaz said the Maldives was receiving approximately 20 flights per day during January and February, while the current figure stands at around 15 flights a day. Despite the reduction, the Government is working closely with airlines and tourism partners to restore capacity and strengthen flight frequencies as demand increases toward the high season.
Dr Niyaz expressed optimism that the ongoing work will generate additional services in the coming months. He said seven additional airlines are expected to commence operations to the Maldives during this year’s tourism season, providing further capacity and widening access to the destination. The Government expects the additional services, together with increased frequencies from existing airline partners, to support a recovery in international air traffic and help the country work towards achieving tourism performance comparable with last year.
Expanded air connectivity carries particular importance for the Maldives’ resort sector, which remains a central pillar of the country’s international tourism offering. With resort properties located across numerous atolls, reliable international airline access is essential for connecting travellers efficiently with domestic flights, seaplanes and speedboat transfers that provide onward transportation to individual resort islands.
Additional international flights during the high season can provide resorts with greater access to travellers from established and emerging markets while giving visitors more flexibility in selecting travel dates, departure cities and connecting routes. Greater seat capacity can also support advance bookings, strengthen occupancy prospects and improve the overall accessibility of resort destinations located beyond the main international gateway.
The benefits extend across the wider tourism economy. Strong international air connectivity supports not only resorts but also guesthouses, travel agencies, tour operators, domestic airlines, seaplane operators, marine transport providers, airport services, tourism suppliers and local businesses connected to the visitor economy. Increased flight frequencies can therefore contribute to tourism activity across multiple atolls while supporting employment and commercial opportunities throughout the sector.
The Middle East remains strategically important to Maldivian aviation because major Gulf airports provide extensive connections between the Maldives and markets across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and other regions. Airlines operating through these international hubs play an important role in bringing travellers from multiple countries to the Maldives, making the restoration and expansion of Gulf connectivity particularly valuable as the tourism sector enters one of its busiest periods of the year.
At the same time, the Government is broadening its approach by working to identify additional source markets and strengthen the Maldives’ visibility internationally. Diversifying visitor markets can help the destination maintain a resilient tourism sector by expanding its reach beyond traditional markets and creating new opportunities for resorts and other tourism establishments to attract travellers from a wider range of countries.
International tourism promotion is also being complemented by engagement with airlines, travel industry partners and overseas markets. Participation in major international travel platforms such as ATM provides opportunities for Maldivian tourism authorities and industry stakeholders to strengthen commercial relationships, explore new routes and encourage airlines to increase capacity to the destination.
The Maldives has established a target of welcoming 2.5 million tourists during 2026 and has so far received approximately 1.5 million visitors. Achieving the annual target remains closely connected to maintaining adequate airline capacity, particularly during the high season when international demand for Maldivian holidays traditionally strengthens.
The Government’s efforts to secure additional airline services are therefore expected to play an important role in supporting visitor growth during the remaining months of the year. Increased connectivity could provide resorts with access to a larger international customer base while making travel to the Maldives more convenient for visitors connecting through regional and global aviation hubs.
For the resort industry, greater connectivity also strengthens the Maldives’ ability to market its diverse accommodation portfolio to different traveller segments. From established luxury island resorts to newer tourism developments across the atolls, improved international access provides properties with greater opportunities to reach international markets and build stronger year-round demand.
As the Maldives approaches the high tourism season, the expected arrival of seven additional airlines, continuing discussions with existing carriers and expanded international destination promotion are set to strengthen the country’s aviation and tourism network. The Government’s focus on restoring flight capacity, developing new markets and deepening cooperation with airline and tourism partners is expected to support the Maldives’ efforts to sustain visitor growth and reinforce its position as one of the world’s leading island tourism destinations.
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