Winter is Coming—A wave of Airlines to Resume Flights to the Maldives

The tide of Maldives’ tourism industry is changing. Now, more airlines have announced their plans to resume flights to the Maldives in coming months. Meanwhile, more resorts in the Maldives are reopening. And guesthouses have also reopened their doors. The island nation has also taken up safety measures to new levels. Thus, it’s a high time for the country’s tourism industry once again, as it’s on road to recovery.

For travellers, accessing the island nation will become even easier with the resumption of these airlines in the upcoming months. If you trust in the unparalleled safety measures the Maldives offers, it really is the time to plan your getaway.

Airlines to Resume Flights to the Maldives on October 2020

Nordwind Airlines: The Russian leisure airline Nordwind resumes operations today, 27th October 2020. The airline will operate a flight on every Tuesday and Friday to Velana International Airport from Sheremetyevo Alexander S. Pushkin International Airport.

FlyDubai: FlyDubai will resume its operations today, 27th October 2020. The airline will operate 4 flights from Dubai itself. These 4 flights will fly to the Maldives on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Lufthansa: The largest German airline will restart operations to the Maldives on 28th October 2020. The airline will operate 2 flights per week. Likewise, these flights will operate on Wednesdays and Sundays.

GoAir: From three cities of India, GoAir will resume flights to the Maldives on 31st October 2020. The three cities include; Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore. Furthermore, the airline will use its A320 aircraft for Maldives operations.

Airlines to Resume Flights to the Maldives on November 2020

Azur Air: The Russian airline will operate flights three times a week from Vnukovo International Airport. Furthermore, these flights will operate to the Maldives on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

China Southern Airlines: The Airline will operate flights from Guangzhou, China to Male’. And the operations will commence on 29th November 2020.

Airlines to Resume Flights to the Maldives on December 2020

Air Seychelles: Air Seychelles revealed to start flights from Johannesburg to the Maldives. The airline will operate flights every Friday night from Johannesburg to the Maldives for 6 weeks.

Silk Air: The regional wing of Singapore Airlines will operate flights to the Maldives from 1st December 2020. Flights will operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays. In addition to that, Silk Air will use its Boeing 737-800 for Maldives operations.

Airlines Currently Operating to the Maldives

Austrian Airlines: Austrian Airlines commenced operations to the Maldives on 25th October 2020. The airline operates direct flights from Vienna, Austria to the Maldives. Flights will fly twice-a-week to the island nation in mid-December, conceding with the festive season

Aeroflot: The flag carrier of Russia resumed its operations to the Maldives on 11th September 2020. The airline has increased its flight frequency yesterday, 26th October 2020. Thus, Aeroflot will fly 4 flights a week to the Maldives on Fridays, Sundays, Mondays, and Saturdays.

flights to Maldives — Austrian Airlines flight in the Maldives
*Image: Velana International Airport*

Emirates: Emirates has also recently increased its flight frequency to the Maldives. The airline now operates 10 flights per week to the island nation. According to figures from the Maldives Tourism Ministry, Emirates brought in 13,379 passengers to the Maldives (as of 18th October 2020) since the border reopening. Thus, making Emirates the airline that has brought the highest number of passengers to the Maldives since the borders reopened.

British Airways: British Airways commenced its operations to the Maldives on 17th October 2020. The airline flies 3 flights a week from London Heathrow.

Air India: Neighboring India’s flag carrier brought in 903 passengers to the Maldives as of 18th October 2020, since the borders reopened. Air India is operating flights to the Maldives as a part of the Air Bubble between India and the Maldives.

Also read: Maldives and India Creates First Air Bubble in South Asia

Edelweiss: The swiss airline is flying directly from Zurich to Velana International Airport. Furthermore, according to the figures form Tourism Industry, Edelweiss brought in 142 since border reopening, as of 18th October 2020.

Etihad Airways: The second flag carrier of UAE brought in 886 passengers to the Maldives with 72 flight movements as of 18th October 2020. Etihad is operating its 136-seater A320 to the Maldives.

Indigo: The low-cost airline resumed flights to the Maldives on 15th October 2020. However, the airline has been operating flights to the Maldives as a part of the India-Maldives Air bubble as well.

Qatar Airways: Qatar airways was the first carrier to resume operations to the Maldives upon border reopening. The airline has brought in a total of 13,250 passengers with 192 flight movements since the border reopening (as of 18th October 2020).

Spicejet: Another Indian low-cost airline, Spicejet been operating flights to the Maldives. The airline brought in 274 passengers since the border reopening, as of 18th October.

SriLankan Airlines: The flag carrier of Sri Lanka is operating 7 flights a week to the Maldives. In addition to that, SriLankan Airlines has connected London, Paris, Frankfurt and Milan to the Maldives.

Turkish Airlines: The flag carrier of Turkey has brought in 2,160 passengers to the Maldives since the border reopening (as of 18th October 2020).

So, is an airline from your country operating to the Maldives? In addition to these airlines, Italy’s leisure airline, Neos is set to commence operations to the Maldives as well. More airlines are also expected to announce their plans to start operations to the Maldives in the coming weeks.

A British Airways flight in the Maldives
*Image: Velana International Airport*

Also read: The Maldives Allows Split Stay in all Tourist Establishments

If you have plans to visit the Maldives, remember you need a PCR test, taken 96 hours before your arrival in the Maldives. You should submit the results when you fill the Traveler Health Declaration Form. This form can be submitted via the Maldives Immigration website. Furthermore, with split stay between tourist facilities now allowed, you can actually spend your holiday on different islands in the Maldives.

COVID-19 has had a huge (negative) impact on the tourism industry of the Maldives. But, arrivals are now picking up at a steady pace. And with these airlines now resuming operations, tourist arrivals are expected to increase even further.

Feature image by Velana International Airport

Dubai plans to redefine the travel experience for millions and reshape its geography by retiring one of its most iconic institutions: Dubai International Airport (DXB). Once a symbol of the city’s meteoric rise, DXB now nears closure as Dubai shifts its aviation ambitions to a colossal new home, Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).

For decades, DXB has played a central role in global air travel, processing over 90 million passengers annually and serving as the beating heart of international connections between East and West. However, the airport’s legacy as the world’s busiest international hub approaches its final chapter. Why? Because Dubai envisions a future defined by space, scale, and a bold new concept of travel and urban life.

Why Close the World’s Busiest International Airport?

The answer lies 45 kilometers south in the desert sands of Dubai South, where Dubai is building a new mega-airport. Al Maktoum International, already partially operational, will become the world’s largest airport. When completed, it will feature five runways, 400 aircraft gates, and the capacity to handle 260 million passengers each year.

Unlike DXB, which dense neighborhoods in Garhoud and Al Qusais confine, DWC gives Dubai room to grow. In contrast, the new site offers scalability and flexibility. The project doesn’t just expand the city’s capacity—it reimagines it. Sleek architecture, cutting-edge technology, and integrated logistics with nearby Jebel Ali Port will ultimately deliver a smoother, more efficient experience for travelers and cargo alike.

Dubai isn’t just chasing numbers; rather, it’s planning for longevity. DXB, built in 1960, continues to age. Its infrastructure nears the end of its useful life. Keeping it operational would force the city to invest billions just to preserve the status quo. Dubai chooses a clean slate.

What Will Happen to the Land?

By closing DXB, Dubai unlocks a massive piece of prime real estate in its urban core. While officials haven’t announced exact redevelopment plans, they’ve opened the door to limitless possibilities. Think residential neighborhoods, parks, commercial centers—a brand-new district rising where runways once lay.

In fact, this transformation reflects the evolution seen in other global cities. Hong Kong, for instance, turned its former Kai Tak Airport into a thriving urban hub. Dubai plans to do the same—only on a larger scale.

When Is This Happening?

The shift won’t happen overnight. Dubai expects the transition to unfold over multiple decades. The first new terminal at Al Maktoum will open in 2032, and officials aim for full capacity between the late 2030s and the 2050s. Until then, DXB will keep serving passengers as Dubai phases in the move to DWC—starting with cargo and low-cost carriers, followed by flagship airlines like Emirates.

Travelers flying to and from Dubai will experience business as usual, for now. But the city has already set the change in motion, and soon, its skyline and story will look very different.

The Bigger Picture

Dubai has never hesitated to reinvent itself. It has transformed from sand dunes to skyscrapers, from a sleepy fishing village into a global metropolis. The closure of DXB doesn’t mark a loss; it signals a pivot. This moment reflects Dubai’s faith in the future, its bold planning, and its relentless drive to build bigger and better.

Unlike most cities, which adapt to their airports, Dubai is flipping the script. The city isn’t just designing an airport for tomorrow; it’s designing an entire city around it.

Feature Image via Arabian Business