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

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

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has once again demonstrated how vulnerable the Maldives is to external geopolitical disruptions. In recent days, major Gulf carriers including Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways have suspended operations due to regional instability. The immediate impact on the Maldives has been severe. Within just the first three days of these operational disruptions, tourist arrivals dropped by 41 percent. For a nation whose economy is overwhe

‎މެދުއިރުމަތީގައި ހިނގަމުންދާ ހަމަނުޖެހުންތަކުގެ ސަބަބުން، ދުރުގައި ހިނގާ ކަންކަމުގެ އަސަރު ދިވެހިރާއްޖެއަށް ކުރާ މިންވަރު އަނެއްކާވެސް މިވަނީ ހާމަވެފައެވެ . ފާއިތުވި މަދު ދުވަސްކޮޅުގެ ތެރޭގައި، ގަލްފުގެ ބޮޑެތި އެއާލައިންތައް ކަމަށްވާ އެމިރޭޓްސް، ޤަޠަރު އެއާވޭސް، އަދި އިއްތިޙާދު އެއާވޭސް އިން ވަނީ އެސަރަޙައްދުގެ މަސްލަޙަތު އޮތް ގޮތުން ދަތުރުތައް މެދުކަނޑާލާފައެވެ ‎މީގެ ނޭދެވޭ އަސަރު ރާއްޖެއަށް ކުރަން ފެށީ ވަރަށްވެސް އަވަހަށެވެ. އެގޮތުން، ހަނގުރާމައިގެ ފުރަތަމަ ތިން ދުވަހުސް ތ

Flight cancellations at Velana International Airport (VIA) are set to continue for a third consecutive day, with 18 inbound flights scheduled for tomorrow now cancelled as the Middle East conflict forces widespread airspace closures across the region. Photo: Dhauru News The disruptions primarily affect major Gulf carriers like Emirates, Qatar Airways, flydubai, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Air Arabia, and etc. The present‑day conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran

The Government of Maldives has announced that tourist visas will be extended for all visitors currently stranded in the country following the severe disruption to international travel caused by the Middle East conflict that began on 28 February 2026. The decision comes after multiple Gulf airspaces were closed and several flights to and from the Maldives were cancelled, leaving many travellers unable to depart before their visas expire. The conflict triggered widespread airsp

Twelve inbound flights scheduled to arrive at Velana International Airport (VIA) on Sunday have been cancelled following a rapid escalation of conflict in the Middle East, which has triggered widespread airspace closures and operational suspensions across several Gulf states. The cancellations cover major Gulf and regional hubs, with twelve inbound services removed from Sunday’s schedule. The affected flights include two Etihad Airways services from Abu Dhabi, one Gulf Air fl

Two private jet operations departing from Male’ were forced to return to Velana International Airport (VIA) today after widespread Middle East airspace closures disrupted their planned routes toward Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. The disruptions follow escalating regional tensions triggered by Israeli strikes, which led several Gulf states to suspend flights and restrict airspace. A VistaJet private jet operating a charter service from Male’ to Košice, Slovakia, initia

Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Ameen has refuted circulating claims that the Government is pursuing a runway extension and land reclamation project at Baa Dharavandhoo Airport, stating that current development efforts are focused solely on upgrading terminal facilities and improving passenger services. Minister Ameen said recent social media posts suggesting that a runway expansion project is underway and that such work could threaten Hanifaru Bay do not reflec

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

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

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

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,

Ali Shareef, the Maldives’ first locally trained weather forecaster and the Deputy Director General of the Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS), has retired after an extraordinary 47‑year career. Ali began his career in 1978 as a meteorological observer, later becoming the first Maldivian to receive formal training as a weather forecaster. Over the decades, he played a central role in issuing aviation and sea‑area forecasts, critical services for a country heavily dependent

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

The national accident‑investigation function has been formally transitioned from the Accident Investigation Coordination Committee (AICC) to the newly established Maldives Transportation Safety Board (MTSB), marking a major step toward strengthening aviation and transport safety oversight in line with international standards. According to an official notice issued by the Civil Aviation Authority, all responsibilities previously held by the AICC have now been transferred to th

Manta Air has strengthened its engineering capabilities with new approval from the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority (MCAA) to perform specialized Non‑Destructive Testing (NDT) on aircraft structures and components. The D1 rating, granted to the airline’s Maintenance Organisation, places Manta Air among the few operators in the country authorized to carry out these high‑precision inspections in‑house. The certification allows the airline to conduct three advanced NDT methods:

The government has announced plans to invest USD 17 million (MVR 262.14 million) for Gan International Airport‘s development project....