Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has announced Emirates will increase flight frequency to the Maldives from 7th October 2020. The largest airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will operate daily flights throughout the week to the Maldives.
According to a tweet by MACL, Emirates will use the B777ER for daily flight to the Maldives. Furthermore, MACL has revealed that the airline currently operates 6 weekly flights to the Maldives. Emirates resumed its operations to the Maldives on 16th July 2020, a day after the island nation reopened its borders. Furthermore, the airline increased its flights from 5 weekly flights to 6 weekly flights in August to boost travel access to the Maldives.
Emirates, the world’s largest airline by traffic revised its booking policies to offer travelers more confidence and flexibility to plan their holidays as well. The airline has also implemented various protocols and measures to provide flyers a safe experience. According to statistics by the Maldives Ministry of Tourism, as of 23rd September 2020, United Arab Emirates ranks as the leading source market in terms of tourist arrivals.
Due to the rising popularity of the Maldives since border reopening, the state-owned budget airline of UAE, flydubai has also announced to resume operations to the Maldives from 27th October 2020. The carrier operated flights to the Maldives between 2013 and 2018 as well. Furthermore, flydubai will operate flights four times a week to Velana International Airport on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Also read: flydubai to Recommence Flight Operations to the Maldives
With a market share of 15.6 percent, a total of 2607 arrivals was recorded from UAE. Moreover, the Maldives has recorded 16,405 tourist arrivals since the border reopening from 15th July 2020 to 23rd September 2020. Prior to the border closure, the Maldives has welcomed a total of 382,760 tourists worldwide. While the COVID-19 pandemic took its toll on Maldives tourism, arrivals have started increasing slowly since the border reopening.
