Regulation restricts airline sales agency to Maldivian companies

A new regulation has been issued to allow only Maldivian companies to serve as sales agents for foreign airlines.

The regulation, announced by the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority on Thursday, specifies that only domestic companies can be appointed as General Sales Agents (GSA), Cargo Sales Agents (CSA), and Passenger Sales Agents (PSA). Permission will be granted following review by the authority.

To register as a sales agent, companies must pay a processing fee of USD 125, equivalent to MVR 1,927.50 at current bank rates.

Sales agents currently operating under foreign-issued certification will be allowed to continue until those certifications expire, even after the new regulation comes into force.

Registered and licensed sales agents must maintain an office in the Maldives. If any additional office is opened, the Civil Aviation Authority must be notified. An administration fee of USD 100 will also apply.

The regulation outlines minimum office space requirements:

• CSA offices must be at least 100 square feet

• PSA offices must be at least 200 square feet

Each office must employ two full-time staff, and companies will be given 15 days to meet these requirements if found non-compliant.

The @CAA_mv will soon gazette a new regulation on air transport sales.
Under President Dr. @MMuizzu ’s directive, only 100% Maldivian-owned companies will be permitted to operate as GSAs, PSAs, or CSAs — a long-awaited reform to empower and strengthen local enterprises. ????????

— Mohamed Ameen (@ameen3d) October 22, 2025

Prior to the announcement, Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen stated on X that the regulation would be introduced to empower Maldivian businesses. He said the change responds to long-standing requests from local companies seeking greater participation in the aviation sector.