UAE budget airline flydubai is set to introduce cargo flights to Maldives. 

Flydubai's Maldives agent, Ace Aviation Service's Managing Director Mohamed Firaq announced on social media that the cargo flights, from Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) to Velana International Airport, will commence on Thursday. 

The cargo-in-cabin flights will be conducted until April 29, Firaq said. He said that the Civil Aviation Authority had authorized these flights yesterday. 

"We welcome with gratitude this initiative by flydubai during these challenging times," Firaq wrote. 

War in the Middle East has disrupted air travel. This poses difficult challenges to Maldives, as many goods needed in the tourism sector are brought through Middle Eastern routes via air cargo. 

The government has also previously announced that they are in discussions with airlines to explore ways to mitigate these challenges.