Nearly 500 flights to the Maldives have been cancelled over the past month as the ongoing US–Israel conflict with Iran continues to trigger widespread airspace closures across the Middle East. Speaking at a press conference at the President's Office, Minister Thoriq revealed that 496 flights were cancelled between February 28 and March 28, severely disrupting connectivity to the Indian Ocean nation. The cancellations, he said, are largely due to major airlines rerouting or su

A Bengaluru–Varanasi IndiGo flight experienced a mid‑air scare on Saturday night after a passenger allegedly attempted to open the aircraft’s emergency exit door twice, later telling officials he was “possessed by a ghost.” The incident occurred on IndiGo flight 6E‑185, which departed Bengaluru around 8:15 pm. About 15 minutes after takeoff, the passenger, identified as Mohammad Adnan, a resident of Mau district in Uttar Pradesh tried to tamper with the emergency exit. Cabin

The Maldives is set to welcome a new European connection as Belavia, the national airline of Belarus, moves toward launching direct flights to the Maldives later this year. The airline has outlined plans for a limited trial series of six to eight flights starting in August, a step that could open a new long‑haul market for the destination. Belavia’s management has described the Maldives as a promising long‑haul destination, despite higher operational costs. The initial flight

A Maldivian man who arrived in the Maldives on a Batik Air flight has been taken into custody following a violent behavior that occurred during the flight, authorities confirmed on Friday. Police have not released specific details about what took place onboard, but described the matter as a “very serious” case now under active investigation. According to initial information, the passenger’s behaviour caused significant inconvenience to the cabin crew and other travellers, dis

Sri Lanka’s decision to propose Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) as an alternative hub for major Gulf airlines highlights how countries in the region are moving quickly to adapt to shifting aviation realities. By positioning MRIA as a reliable southern routing option during a period of Middle Eastern airspace disruption, Sri Lanka is demonstrating the kind of strategic thinking that the Maldives, too, must consider as it works to strengthen and future‑proof its

The Maldives and Australia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish and facilitate commercial air services between the two countries, marking a significant step forward in expanding long‑haul connectivity for the Maldives. The agreement creates a formal framework that allows airlines from both nations to operate direct flights, subject to regulatory approvals and commercial arrangements. The MoU was signed on behalf of the Maldives by Mr. Abdul Haris, Chai

The Employment Tribunal of the Maldives has ruled that Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) acted lawfully in dismissing a cabin attendant who submitted a forged medical certificate, concluding that the company’s decision was justified and that the employee is not entitled to compensation. The Tribunal, which adjudicates employment disputes across the country, delivered its decision in the first week of March after reviewing the complaint filed by the employee in October 2024. The c

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) was brought to a complete halt today after a full‑day warning strike forced the cancellation of all commercial flights, adding another layer of disruption to an already strained regional travel environment. According to airport and aviation data, more than 440 departures and arrivals were cancelled, affecting close to 60,000 passengers. The strike, called by the trade union ver.di, involved around 2,000 airport employees, including firefighter

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has placed parts of the Air India fleet under heightened regulatory review after inspectors identified a series of technical and operational issues during recent assessments. The findings, outlined in inspection reports shared with the airline, point primarily to minor technical discrepancies and cabin‑related deficiencies, many of which are linked to the carrier’s older aircraft. EASA’s review noted several recurring issues ac

Private jet traffic to the Maldives has surged sharply with 128 aircraft landing between 28 February and 14 March, marking a 166 percent increase compared to the 70 arrivals recorded during the same period last year. The figures point to a significant shift in how high‑end travellers are reaching the island nation, with many opting for direct private aviation amid widespread cancellations and delays affecting major transit hubs across the Middle East. Last year, the Maldives

A drone incident near Dubai International Airport (DXB) has triggered a fire affecting one of the airport’s fuel tanks, leading to widespread operational disruption across the region. According to the Dubai Media Office, Dubai Civil Defence teams are currently working to bring the fire under control, and no injuries have been reported. Authorities confirmed that an unauthorised drone was detected in the vicinity of the airport, resulting in an impact that caused a fire at a f

A US Air Force KC‑135 Stratotanker was lost over western Iraq during an operational mission, U.S. defense officials confirmed on Friday. The incident involved two KC‑135 aircraft, with one tanker going down while the second aircraft was able to land safely at its base. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the loss. According to initial military reports, the KC‑135 was conducting a routine operational sortie when it was involved in an in‑flight incident with

Tourism arrivals to Maldives remain sharply lower in early March, with new data showing a continued decline in daily visitor numbers as airline disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict affect global connectivity. Updated figures from the Ministry of Tourism Maldives show that 49,962 tourists arrived between 1st - 10th March 2026, averaging 4,996 arrivals per day. For comparison, February recorded 247,722 visitors over 28 days, which equals a daily average of 8,847 arriv

Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives, has officially resumed its direct flights between Male’ and Dhaka, restoring a key air link between the two capitals after several months of suspension. The relaunch was marked with a ceremonial water‑cannon salute at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, where the first inbound flight landed early Tuesday morning. The inaugural service, operated by an Airbus A320 with a full passenger load, touched down in Dhaka at 5

Lufthansa passengers are being warned of travel disruption next week after the airline’s pilots announced a two‑day strike beginning March 12, escalating an ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions. The industrial action, called by the German pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit, is expected to affect both short‑haul and long‑haul operations across the carrier’s network. The union said the walkout follows stalled negotiations with Lufthansa management, claiming that progr

An Air India Express Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating a scheduled service from Hyderabad to Phuket experienced a hard landing at Phuket International Airport today, resulting in damage to the aircraft’s nose landing gear and a brief ground fire caused by debris. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated without injury. The aircraft, operating as flight IX 938, touched down late morning in Phuket when it reportedly encountered a high‑energy landing. The impact caused the nose la

Air India has announced a significant temporary expansion of its international flight operations including additional services to the Maldives in response to widespread airspace disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The airline will operate 78 supplementary flights between 10 and 18 March, adding more than 17,600 seats across nine major international routes. The move comes as several key West Asian air corridors remain restricted, forcing airlines to

British Airways has cancelled multiple flights across the Middle East as the airline continues to respond to heightened regional tensions and evolving airspace restrictions. The cancellations affect services to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain and Israel, with the suspension currently in place through at least 15 March. The airline confirmed that flights to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Amman, Bahrain and Tel Aviv remain grounded while safety assessments continue. B

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has significantly disrupted global jet fuel supply chains, with the near‑closure of the Strait of Hormuz sharply reducing the flow of crude and refined products. In its Chart of the Week published on 6 March 2026, IATA outlines how the sudden collapse in tanker traffic through the Strait has exposed structural vulnerabilities in the aviation fuel market, particularly for regions he

Etihad Airways has announced that it will restart a limited commercial flight schedule from 6th to 19th March, restoring service to a select group of international destinations including Male’, Maldives as the airline begins a phased return to operations following regional airspace disruptions. Etihad confirmed that flights will operate only after extensive safety and security assessments carried out in coordination with relevant authorities. All other scheduled commercial se