Maldivian Airlines to Launch Weekly Scheduled Flights to Australia Following High Demand

Building on the success of its initial foray into the Australasian market, the national carrier, Maldivian, has announced plans to introduce regular scheduled flights to Australia starting next year. 

The decision comes on the heels of overwhelming demand following the airline’s historic launch of direct flights to Melbourne on 18 May.

Under the new schedule, Maldivian will operate one weekly flight utilising the wide-body A330 aircraft from its fleet. The transition from exploratory routes to a permanent scheduled service follows a meticulous three-month review of passenger trends and market performance by the airline.

When direct operations to Melbourne were first introduced earlier this year, executives emphasised that the routes were the result of extensive feasibility studies. A primary driver for the expansion has been the strategic importance of Australia as a major source market for the Maldives’ booming tourism industry. Airline officials confirmed that the direct service has already yielded positive results, noticeably boosting tourist arrivals from Australia.

The carrier's strategic move is well-supported by national tourism data. According to the latest statistics released by the Ministry of Tourism, Australia currently stands as the 9th largest source market for visitors to the Maldives. To date this year, the island nation has welcomed 31,586 travelers from Australia, a figure the airline hopes to see grow significantly with the introduction of the new weekly scheduled service.