Maldives’ main airport, Velana International Airport has welcomed 399 international flights within a month of border reopening, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) confirmed.
As per the statistics by MACL, 7,607 passengers arrived at Velana International Airport while 9,269 left the country between 15th July 2020 to 15th August 2020.
Looking into domestic air traffic movements, Velana International Airport has recorded 365 flights, with 3,480 passengers arriving and departures stood at 4,323 during the period.
Among the arrivals, Maldives Immigration previously revealed that a total of 5245 tourists arrived in Maldives during this period. From this, 1769 arrivals took place in July and 3476 tourists arrived in August.
During the course of COVID-19 pandemic, as an incentive to support and to boost up the tourism industry in the Maldives, MACL has also offered attractive discounts from airport charges to International Airline operators on June 2020.
In preparation for the reopening of tourism industry, Velana International Airport has also implemented social distancing measures with clearly visible distance information and floor markings in passenger terminals as a precautionary step for the safety of passengers and staff. According to MACL, bright floor markings can now visibly be seen, three feet apart from each other, in places of possible passenger congestion.
This includes ticketing and check-in counters, and the pre-flight inspection zone in the international terminal at the airport. MACL also added that similar floor markings, also each three-feet apart, are placed at the check-in counters in the domestic terminal at the airport.
In addition, four feet tall glass sheet separators between counters were installed to strengthen the protective measures against the virus.
Which airlines are flying to Maldives?
Hong Kong Airlines and Indigo Airlines are to resume flights to the Maldives this month, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) announced. These two airlines will join the existing scheduled flights of Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Sri Lankan Airlines and Turkish Airlines.
On 15th July, the day Maldives reopened its borders, the state-owned flag carrier Qatar Airways operated the very first flight to the island nation carrying 107 foreigners and 24 Maldivians, who were welcomed with a grand water salute at the airport. Qatar Airways is offering flights daily between Doha and Male’.
The Dubai based carrier Emirates has increased its services to Maldives starting from 4th of August. Emirates has expanded operations from 5 weekly flights to 6 weekly flights to the country in order to meet the high demand. Another Middle East airline operating to the Maldives is Etihad.
