Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has revealed 12 airlines have scheduled flights to Velana International Airport (VIA), as the Maldives aims to reopen its borders on July 15.
As per the schedule publicised by MACL, a Qatar Airways A320 flight will first travel to VIA from Doha, once the Maldives reopen its borders. Emirates will restart its operations on July 16 with five weekly flights from Dubai to VIA. Etihad Airways will resume operations on July 18 with two weekly flights from Abu Dhabi to VIA.
Furthermore, MACL revealed Sri Lankan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Silk Air, Hong Kong Airlines, Gulf Air, Air India and British Airways will also resume operations to the Maldives in August. MACL also said Swiss leisure airline Edelweiss will restart operating direct flights from Zurich to VIA in September and Turkish Airlines will resume operations to VIA in October. The state-owned enterprise expects the schedule to change considering the increase in passengers travelling to the Maldives.
MACL has offered free services and huge discounts on services until August to revive the travel sector. In this regard, MACL said ground handling, navigation and parking fees will be free from July 15 until the end of August. The company will also offer a 75% discount on these services from September until October 27 and a 50% discount from October 28, 2020 to October 28, 2021.