Austrian Airlines has resumed flights to the Maldives today, 25th October 2020. The airline is operating direct flights between Vienna, Austria and Velana International Airport.
According to Austrian Airlines, flights will fly twice-a-week to the Maldives in Mid-December, conceding with the festive season. The Lufthansa group’s airline landed its first passenger flight since the border reopening today. Velana international airport hailed the arrival of the flight, tweeting “Welcome back old friend!”.
Recently, Austrian Airlines has commenced the first trials for using rapid COVID-19 antigen tests in close cooperation with Vienna Airport. The tests are free of charge and are carried out on a voluntary basis. For this purpose, Vienna Airport has set up a testing center in the check-in area of Terminal 3. So, after taking the test, passengers will receive their results within 10-15 minutes, either via SMS or, upon request, after personal inquiry.
The airplane is already the safest means of transport in the public transport sector. Nevertheless, we want to go one step further, and make travelling by air even safer.
A statement by Jens Ritter, COO of Austrian Airlines.
Austrian Airlines is joining a list of many other airlines commencing services to the Maldives for this winter season. Just recently, Italy’s leisure airline ‘Neos’ revealed to start operations to the Maldives. Meanwhile, Air Seychelles has also announced to start direct flights from Johannesburg to the Maldives.
Also read: Qatar Adds the Maldives to COVID-19 ‘Green List’
With several airlines now resuming operations to the Maldives, tourist arrivals are steadily growing. Maldives Immigration revealed a total of 27,217 tourists arrived in the Maldives during the first three months after the border reopened. In addition to that, the island archipelago recorded 8,350 tourist arrivals from 1st October to 15th October 2020.
