Three new airlines will commence operations to the Maldives this year, announced Maldives Airports Company Ltd (MACL) on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference held at MACL office, its Managing Director Adil Moosa stated that four airlines are expected to commence flights to the archipelago this year and that the company is currently in discussions with three.
Without revealing names, MD Adil said that the airlines are one airline proposing to operate direct flights from Velana International Airport (VIA) to two cities of India, one airline of Europe and another of China. He expressed hopes that the airline to India will begin operations in mid-2017 and the European airline during the winter transitional months of October and November.
“There was a record number of movements at the airport last season,” he noted, adding that movements are expected to increase in the future.
Meanwhile, the flagship carrier of China, Air China, is also preparing to commence operations to the Maldives, according to the China Embassy.
Currently, over 30 international airlines operate to the Maldives, with the addition of chartered flights and domestic flights to VIA during the tourist season.
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