Maldivian is gearing up to expand its international service with exciting new flights to South Africa and Germany, which are scheduled to launch later this year. This marks a major step forward in the airline’s strategy to offer more direct routes to popular international destinations, helping to boost the Maldives’ tourism industry.
The newly acquired Airbus A330-200, capable of seating 264 passengers, marks the airline’s first wide-body addition to its fleet. This aircraft is already servicing routes to three major Chinese cities – Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu and the airline plans to add another wide-body aircraft by the end of 2025.
Maldivian’s move to establish direct routes to South Africa and Germany comes at a time when the government is focused on enhancing international connections to boost tourism. Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen highlighted that these new flights would provide more convenient travel options for tourists, particularly those from distant destinations. “These routes will save valuable time for travellers coming from regions like Europe and Africa, making the Maldives even more accessible to global tourists.” said Minister Ameen.
The government has also committed to further expanding the fleet, with another wide-body aircraft set to arrive in October, increasing the airline’s capacity to serve other growing markets.
Tourism numbers are already going strong in the Maldives, with over 500,000 tourists visiting the Maldives in just the first few months of the year. The addition of direct flights to Germany and South Africa is expected to help maintain this upward trend and contribute further to the Maldives’ booming tourism industry.
