International flight arrivals drop 4.7% in first half of the year

The number of foreign flights arriving in Maldives declined by 4.7 percent in the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year.

According to the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), 8,807 international flights arrived in Maldives in the first six months of last year. In comparison, 8,393 flights arrived during the same period this year, a decrease of 414 flights, or 4.7 percent.

MMA statistics show the decline was driven mainly by a drop in scheduled flights. There were 7,352 scheduled flights in the first six months of this year, compared to 8,088 scheduled flights in the same period last year.

However, the number of charter flights and private jets increased. Maldives recorded 1,041 charter and private jet movements in the first six months of this year, up from 719 in the same period last year.

Many flights to Maldives were canceled due to the ongoing unrest in the Middle East since late February. Major Middle Eastern airlines, including Etihad Airways, Emirates and Flydubai, canceled several flights after airspace closures in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other Gulf countries during the early stages of the conflict. Most tourists typically transit through Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

The number of tourists arriving in Maldives also declined due to the flight cancellations. Maldives welcomed 1.11 million tourists in the first six months of last year, compared to 1.05 million in the same period this year.

According to MMA statistics, tourists spent an average of one week in Maldives.