Qatar Airways resumes Maldives flights after Middle East airspace closures

Qatar Airways will resume flights to the Maldives next week, after suspending operations on 28 March due to airspace closures triggered by the conflict in the Middle East.

The suspension followed US and Israeli military action against Iran, which led several Middle Eastern countries to close their airspace in response to Iranian attacks. The disruption caused a sharp decline in tourist arrivals to the Maldives, as more than half of European travellers typically transit through Middle Eastern hubs.

Ace Travels CEO Mohamed Firaq, the General Sales Agent (GSA) for Qatar Airways in the Maldives, announced on Facebook on Monday evening that the airline will restart flights on Wednesday next week. The initial services will be operated with an Airbus A350, with five flights per week.

Firaq said the resumption of Qatar Airways flights will boost tourism and increase international connectivity. He previously noted that over 55 percent of European tourists arrive in the Maldives after transiting through Middle Eastern airports, and stressed the need for the Maldives to diversify transit hubs across Africa and Asia to better withstand disruptions like the current conflict.

Tourism Minister Thoriq Ibrahim said 496 flights were cancelled between 28 March and last Saturday due to the regional airspace closures.