Lower Jet Fuel Prices Drive Increase in Maldives International Flight Frequency

Passenger flight frequency to the Maldives has increased for the summer season, following a strategic government decision to reduce jet fuel prices to incentivize international carriers. Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen attributed the recovery to these measures, which aim to mitigate the impact of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East on the tourism sector. Speaking at a press conference at the President's Office, Minister Ameen revealed that flight cancellations have declined significantly. At the height of the regional disruptions, an average of 99 flights were cancelled weekly; that figure has now dropped to 70, marking a 22 percent improvement. While the Minister noted that operations have not yet fully returned to previous baselines, he characterized the current trend as steady progress. The recovery is supported by the return of major Gulf carriers. Emirates and Qatar Airways have both resumed their services, contributing to a total of five major airlines currently actively servicing the Maldives. These operational returns coincide with the finalization of summer schedules, which show a two percent increase in passenger volumes compared to last year. To stimulate this growth, the government reduced the retail price of jet fuel on May 15, lowering the cost from USD 1.90 to USD 1.60 per litre. This financial incentive arrives after a challenging period where visitor arrivals plummeted by 22 percent in March and 26 percent in April year-over-year. Despite those early losses, the sector has seen a 17 percent improvement in recent months. Optimism for the industry was further bolstered this week by the launch of direct flights between Australia and the Maldives. A flight arriving from Melbourne on Wednesday operated at 92 percent capacity, signaling a strong appetite for Maldivian travel among long-haul markets.