Velana International Airport (VIA) is preparing to relocate all domestic flight operations to the refurbished Terminal 2, marking a major operational shift under Maldives Airports Company Limited’s (MACL) ongoing airport development program. The move follows structural upgrades and systems integration work to repurpose the former international terminal for domestic passenger handling. Once the transition is activated, all domestic departures and arrivals will move from the ex

Premium leisure airline beOnd has taken a significant step in its Gulf expansion strategy, signing a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Affairs to explore establishing a Bahrain‑based Air Operator Certificate (AOC). The proposed operation would see up to 10 aircraft based in the Kingdom by 2030, targeting high‑yield leisure and business traffic and positioning Bahrain as a key node between Europe, the Middle East, Asia and, in the longer term, North America.

Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) has achieved a landmark operational milestone, completing the highest single‑day volume of flights and passenger movements in its history. Across the day, TMA successfully served more than 7,000 passengers and executed over 800 take offs and landings, underscoring the airline’s unmatched capacity to deliver seamless connectivity across the Maldives’ dispersed island network. This achievement reflects the strength of TMA’s operational readiness an

StarSky Aviation has commended the flight crew of a Fokker 50 after the aircraft conducted a forced landing along the Mogadishu coastline following a reported technical malfunction shortly after departure. All 55 people on board, 50 passengers and five crew members survived the incident without injuries. The aircraft, a Fokker 50 registered 6O‑YAS, had taken off from Aden Adde International Airport on a scheduled flight to Djibouti when the crew encountered a technical issue

Greater Bay Airlines of Hong Kong has begun charter operations to the Maldives, marking another expansion of the country’s air connectivity with East Asia. The airline’s inaugural service, flight HB2500, arrived at Velana International Airport yesterday, where it was welcomed with a traditional water salute. A total of 174 passengers travelled on the first flight. Greater Bay Airlines will operate direct charter flights between Hong Kong and Malé using the Boeing 737 MAX, add

Island Aviation Services Ltd (IASL), the operator of the national carrier Maldivian, has issued a new call for proposals to finance‑lease two new ATR 42‑600 aircraft. The announcement marks a renewed effort to secure long‑term financing after an earlier tender for the same aircraft was released in late 2025. According to the new Request for Proposal (RFP) published on 2 February 2026, IASL is seeking a finance lease arrangement with a minimum term of fifteen years. The re‑ten

AirBorneo and ATR have announced a strategic partnership to renew and modernise Malaysia’s Rural Air Services (RAS) fleet, with the airline confirming a firm order for eight new ATR aircraft. The agreement includes five ATR 72‑600s and three ATR 42‑600s, along with purchase rights for four additional aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2027 and 2029. The order represents a key step in AirBorneo’s transition into Sarawak’s state‑owned carrier and its assum

The Maldives recorded 10,253 tourist arrivals on 1 February 2026, setting a new single‑day record for the country’s tourism sector. The figure surpasses the previous high of 10,213 arrivals registered on 10 February 2024, according to official data. The new record follows a strong start to the year, coming just days after the Maldives posted its highest‑ever January arrival total. Tourism authorities say the latest numbers indicate that demand has remained consistently high i

Authorities in Spain are investigating an incident at Valencia Airport after a Moroccan man gained access to the airside area and climbed onto the roof of a Vueling Airbus A320 on Saturday. The individual reportedly reached the aircraft by using the passenger stairs positioned at the forward door before making his way onto the top of the fuselage. Airport security and members of the Civil Guard responded immediately. According to officials, three civil guards engaged with the

The Maldives has started 2026 with a new monthly tourism record, registering 224,788 arrivals in January and surpassing the previous high of 224,455 recorded in December 2025. The updated figure continues the strong performance seen at the end of last year and gives the industry a steady start to the new season. According to official data, the January total reflects continued momentum from the final quarter of 2025, when visitor numbers consistently trended upward across key

Maldivian has launched a new wheel‑based Twin Otter operation in the southern atolls, connecting Gan with Fuvahmulah, Kaadedhdhoo, and Kooddoo. The airline is positioning the service as a major step toward strengthening regional mobility a long‑standing ambition for the south. The move marks the first time Maldivian has deployed wheel-based Twin Otters for scheduled domestic airport‑to‑airport flights. While the new operation brings renewed optimism, it enters a region where

Saudi Arabia has formally informed Iran that it will not permit its airspace or territory to be used for any military action against the Islamic Republic, a position that significantly limits the operational options available to the United States amid heightened regional tensions. According to sources cited by AFP, Riyadh delivered the message directly to Tehran, clarifying that the Kingdom will neither participate in nor facilitate any strike targeting Iran. The communicatio

Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives, marks an important milestone as it celebrates 18 years since launching flights to Trivandrum, India. The airline first commenced operations to the South Indian city on 25 January 2008, establishing one of its earliest and most enduring international routes. Over nearly two decades, the Trivandrum sector has played a key role in connecting Maldivian travelers with Kerala’s capital, an important hub for medical travel, education,

UPS has formally withdrawn its remaining McDonnell Douglas MD‑11 freighters from service, marking the end of the carrier’s operations with the tri‑jet type. The move follows a fatal accident in November and the subsequent grounding of the entire MD‑11 fleet. The retirement was confirmed in UPS’s fourth‑quarter 2025 earnings release, published on January 27. In the filing, the company disclosed a non‑cash, after‑tax charge associated with the accelerated phase‑out of the MD‑11

The United Arab Emirates has reiterated its longstanding policy of preventing its airspace, territory, and territorial waters from being used for any hostile military action against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The statement, issued by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on 26 January 2026, underscores the country’s continued emphasis on diplomacy, de‑escalation, and respect for state sovereignty. Clear Position Against Participation in Hostile Acts In its announcemen

GE Aerospace has completed a major hybrid‑electric propulsion milestone, successfully demonstrating power transfer, extraction, and injection on a high‑bypass commercial turbofan engine, a step the company says brings hybrid‑electric flight closer to commercial reality. The achievement was announced following 2025 ground tests of a modified Passport engine at GE’s Peebles Test Operation in Ohio. The work was conducted under NASA’s Turbofan Engine Power Extraction Demonstratio

A new cluster of Nipah virus infections in India has prompted several Asian aviation authorities to activate enhanced screening protocols at major international airports. Although the outbreak remains limited, the virus’s high fatality rate has led to swift action to safeguard cross‑border travel and maintain operational stability across the region. Airports Increase Screening for India‑Arriving Flights Following confirmed cases in West Bengal, airports in Thailand, Nepal, an

Velana International Airport (VIA) recorded a strong year in 2025, handling 8.28 million passengers, a 7% increase compared to the previous year. The growth reflects continued demand across international, domestic, and seaplane operations, supported by rising tourist arrivals and improved inter‑island connectivity. Of the total passenger volume, 5.38 million were international travellers, underscoring VIA’s role as the Maldives’ primary gateway. Domestic traffic reached 1.17

Maldivian will introduce new DHC‑6 Twin Otter wheel‑based flights in the southern region this February, expanding short‑sector connectivity between Gan, Fuvahmulah, Kaadedhdhoo, and Kooddoo. The new operation is expected to enhance connectivity across the southern atolls by offering faster, more direct links between Gan, Fuvahmulah, Kaadedhdhoo, and Kooddoo. The service is anticipated to ease travel for local communities while also supporting regional tourism by providing a q

Maldivian will host a public music carnival in Hulhumale’ on 6th February as part of its lead‑up to the airline’s resumption of flights to Dhaka, Bangladesh. The “Dhaka, We Heard You” Music Carnival will be held at the Hulhumale’ Synthetic Track from 20:00 to 23:00, featuring live performances, music, and entertainment. The carnival comes as Maldivian prepares to restart its Dhaka service on 12 March, restoring an important route for travellers and for the large Bangladeshi p