Firaq says one Middle Eastern and two Asian carriers set for winter launch

Three airlines, including one from the Middle East, are preparing to launch flights to the Maldives, Inner Maldives owner and aviation expert Mohamed Firaq said on Monday.

Firaq made the remark at a time when the Middle East conflict has caused significant disruption to the Maldives’ tourism industry, according to figures from the Ministry of Tourism.

Tourist arrivals fell to 207,707 last month, down from 216,309 in March.

In a social media post, Firaq said three airlines are now in the final stages of preparations to begin flights to the Maldives for the upcoming winter season. Once administrative and regulatory processes are completed, the airlines will officially announce their schedules, he said.

Without naming the carriers, Firaq said one Middle Eastern airline and two Asian airlines are gearing up to start operations to the Maldives.

He added that the Maldives will continue to expand and seize opportunities to grow its tourism sector.

It is notable that a large share of tourists arrive via Middle Eastern routes, a segment that has been heavily affected by widespread flight cancellations.

Despite the decline in tourist arrivals, private jet traffic has increased significantly amid the ongoing conflict.