Maldivian Airlines Adds 200 Extra Flights to Meet Eid Holiday Demand

Maldivian Airlines has scheduled over 200 additional flights beyond its regular operations to accommodate the surge of travelers during the upcoming Eid holidays, according to Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef. The national carrier is significantly ramping up operations as hundreds of passengers prepare to travel between islands to celebrate the festive period with their families. This expansion is part of a coordinated effort to mitigate the annual struggle citizens face when securing tickets during one of the busiest travel windows in the Maldivian calendar. During a 'Presser with the Spox' conference, Hussain Shareef addressed journalist concerns regarding ticket availability. He noted that while the traffic spike is a predictable annual phenomenon, the airline treats these additional movements as a public service rather than a purely commercial venture. He explained that certain routes, such as flights from Malé to Addu City, often run at full capacity while return flights remain underutilized, making the business model challenging but necessary for community connectivity. Data released during the briefing shows a total of 1,277 flight movements scheduled from May 17 to June 2. Of these, 1,014 are part of the regular schedule, while 213 are dedicated off-schedule flights specifically arranged to meet holiday demand. This means approximately one in five flights during this window represents an increase over normal monthly operations. Despite these efforts, the spokesperson admitted that the airline has reached its current operational limit and cannot increase flight frequency further. The carrier expects to sell roughly 64,000 seats during the Eid period, with demand continuing to outpace capacity year after year. To address this long-term growth in domestic travel, the government is establishing regional transport networks to strengthen the national infrastructure. These networks, which utilize Twin Otter seaplanes, are designed to operate within designated provinces. While the service has already launched in the southern region, the government plans to expand this connectivity across other atolls in the coming months to reduce reliance on the centralized hub in Malé.