Middle East conflict forces 17 more flight cancellations to Maldives

Seventeen additional flights scheduled to arrive in the Maldives from Middle Eastern countries have been cancelled as the region’s escalating conflict continues to disrupt global air travel.

The cancellations follow days of attacks between the United States, Israel and Iran, which have led to the temporary closure of airspace across several Middle Eastern countries. Major airlines operating through the region have halted or rerouted flights as a result.

According to the flight schedule at Velana International Airport, 17 flights scheduled for Monday have now been cancelled. The affected airlines include Gulf Air, Air Arabia, Flydubai, Qatar Airways and Emirates.

The Maldives Airports Company Ltd (MACL) said 19 flights were cancelled on Sunday, affecting 3,530 passengers. Flights were also cancelled on Saturday, leading to heavy congestion at the airport. MACL arranged temporary accommodation for stranded passengers inside the former domestic terminal and provided essential items to 130 passengers who remained at the airport on Saturday night.

Tourism Minister Thoriq Ibrahim noted that 35 percent of daily tourist arrivals to the Maldives come from the Middle East, making the disruptions particularly significant for the tourism sector.

The conflict continues to intensify, with Israel and the United States carrying out strikes on Iran and Iran launching retaliatory attacks on U.S. military bases in the region.