Abu Dhabi Fund gives $40 million loan for Maldives main airport
Abu Dhabi Fund for Development on Wednesday announced an additional loan of Dh147 million ($40 million) to support the completion of the Velana International Airport (VIA) project in the Maldives. This follows an earlier loan of Dh183.5 million ($50 million) provided in 2017 for the project’s initial phases, highlighting the airport’s vital role in driving […]
Manta Air, Crown & Champa Resorts partner for luxurious guest transfers
Manta Air has announced an exclusive domestic transfer partnership with Crown & Champa Resorts, a premier luxury hospitality brand in the Maldives. This strategic collaboration aims to provide seamless and luxurious transfer services for guests of Crown & Champa Resorts. Starting from 17th December 2024, Manta Air will operate scheduled flights to Madivaru Airport using […]
Maldives main airport’s new terminal reaches 85%, opening set for July 2025
The new terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA) is 85% complete and scheduled to open by July 2025, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) said Tuesday. The update was provided by MACL Managing Director Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed in response to a query by Gadhdhoo MP Mohamed Ali during a meeting of the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Committee’s […]
Island Aviation’s debt to MACL reaches MVR 1.12 billion
Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) informed parliament’s state-owned enterprises sub-committee on Tuesday that Island Aviation Services (IAS) has an outstanding debt of MVR 1.12 billion. MACL officials were summoned to discuss strategies to improve the company’s financial position and address loans. MACL Managing Director Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed stated that providing credit to government-owned companies poses […]
MACL plans seaplane operations at Hanimaadhoo Airport
Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) is planning to construct a seaplane terminal at HDh. Hanimaadhoo Airport, set to reopen next year. The announcement was made during a session of the State-Owned Enterprises Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, where MACL officials provided updates on the project. Responding to questions raised by committee members, MACL Deputy Managing […]
Manta Air welcomes Dhigufaru and Nika resorts for exclusive seaplane transfers
Manta Air has announced its new exclusive partnerships with Dhigufaru Island Resort and Nika Island Resort & Spa to deliver seamless, luxurious seaplane transfers for guests. This collaboration is an exciting addition to Manta Air’s portfolio, reinforcing its role as the premier choice for resort transfers across the Maldives. Dhigufaru Island Resort and Nika Island […]
Maafaru airport reopens for international flights
Maafaru International Airport has resumed international flight operations at the start of this year’s tourism season, following a temporary closure for upgrading. The airport is known for hosting the second-largest number of private jets in the Maldives after Velana International Airport. The airport, which serves high-end tourists visiting nearby luxury resorts, underwent improvements to expand […]
Expansion of Fuvahmulah Airport aimed at jet accommodation
Fuvahmulah Airport is set to undergo development to cater to private jets, with plans to expand the runway and apron for jet parking spaces, according to the Regional Airports Company (RAC). The airport operator presented its development masterplan to the Fuvahmulah City Council during discussions on Thursday. RAC outlined the key points of the plan: […]
Hong Kong Airlines resumes Maldives flights
Hong Kong Airlines resumed direct scheduled flights to Maldives on Friday. Hong Kong Airlines first launched chartered direct flights to Maldives in 2011. Scheduled flights began in 2018 and continued until the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. A special ceremony was held at Velana International Airport to mark the occasion, commemorating the arrival of Hong […]
Virgin Atlantic to operate daily Maldives flights in winter 2024
Virgin Atlantic has announced plans to boost its routes to Dubai, the Maldives and Barbados next winter. The carrier launched thrice weekly flights from Heathrow to the Maldives in October, and said it would increase this service to daily for the winter 2024-2025 season. The new frequencies are on sale now, with daily flights between […]
Etihad, Maldivian announce interline partnership
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, and Maldives’ flag carrier Maldivian have unwrapped an early Christmas present for customers by announcing a strategic bilateral interline partnership, unlocking access to 16 dream holiday destinations in the Maldives beyond the main island of Male. The agreement between Etihad and Maldivian, the national airline of the […]
SriLankan Airlines mulls cancelling loss-making Colombo-Gan flights
SriLankan Airlines might halt its Colombo-Addu flights due to increasing financial losses, as disclosed by Ace Aviation, the airline’s General Service Agent (GST) in the Maldives. The direct route between Gan International Airport and Colombo’s Bandaranike International Airport was initiated by SriLankan in 2016. Flights recommenced on December 4, 2021, post-COVID suspension, with a current […]