Russian Airlines, also known as Aeroflot has resumed its operations to the Maldives on Friday, 11th September 2020. According to an earlier statement, the flag carrier of Russia will operate 2 weekly flights to the Maldives. The largest airline of Russia, Aeroflot has been operating flights to the Maldives for 10 years.
A direct flight from Russia to the Maldives takes about 9 hours. Aeroflot is one of the oldest active airline services in the world. Likewise, the airline was founded and has been operating since 1923. The resumption of flights from Aeroflot will have an increase in tourist arrivals from Russia to the Maldives. Moreover, the Russian market has been a traditionally strong market for the Maldives.
The year 2020 began with the Russian market ranking as the fourth-highest arrival market to the Maldives, with an increase of arrivals by 29.6% compared to January of 2019. Russia is currently ranked among the top 10 countries in terms of arrivals amidst the pandemic. However, arrivals from Russia is expected to increase as Aeroflot and other carriers resume flight to the Maldives.
Recently, leading travel agent Resort Life Travel partnered with Anex Tour to operate charter flights between the Maldives and Russia as well. In addition to that, Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation has restarted its E-learning platform for tour operators in Russia and the CIS region. The objective of this platform is to encourage tour operators in Russia and the CIS Region to further increase bookings to the Maldives.
Major airlines operating flights to the Maldives have recommenced their operations since the Maldives border reopening on 15th July 2020. Arrivals to the Maldives are on the rise once again with 7,628 arrivals recorded in August 2020. Presently, a select number of resorts and liveaboards are currently open for tourism in the Maldives. However, the number of resorts reopening has been increasing alongside strict measures taken to attract more visitors to the Maldives.
