Twelve Flights Scheduled to Arrive at Velana International Airport Tomorrow Cancelled as Middle East Conflict Disrupts Regional Airspace

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 flight from Bahrain and another from Colombo, two flydubai flights from Dubai and one from Sri Lanka, two Emirates flights from Dubai, one Qatar Airways service from Doha, and two Air Arabia flights from Sharjah.

The Maldives relies heavily on Gulf carriers for both tourist arrivals and global transit connectivity, making the cancellation of twelve flights in a single day a significant operational setback. Gulf hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain serve as the primary gateways for travellers from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia.

The Maldives’ tourism sector depends heavily on steady, uninterrupted air connectivity, so the cancellation of twelve flights in a single day creates immediate pressure on arrivals and resort operations.

With several wide‑body and narrow‑body services removed from the schedule, the country faces a sharp drop in expected daily tourist arrivals, and many travellers unable to reroute may postpone or cancel their bookings.

As tourism contributes more than a quarter of national GDP, any disruption in flight movements has a direct economic impact, and continued Middle East airspace restrictions could lead to further cancellations in the coming days, affecting weekly and monthly tourism performance.