French budget airline, French Bee, to launch Maldives operations later this year

French Bee, a French low-cost long-haul carrier, is set to launch operations to the Maldives later this year.

According to Aviators Maldives, a news outlet specializing in aviation developments, the airline is scheduled to commence operations from Paris, France, to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Velana International Airport (VIA), Maldives, on December 19.

French Bee CEO Marc-Antoine Blondeau described the expansion as a strategic move for the airline’s growth, noting that there are currently no direct air links between France and either Sri Lanka or the Maldives. He also highlighted the increasing popularity of both destinations, pointing in particular to the Maldives’ resort tourism segment and Sri Lanka’s rising popularity for culture, nature, and wellness travel.

The route will operate from Paris Orly Airport to Colombo, before continuing onward to Velana International Airport.

The schedule shows that from December 19 to January 10, flights will operate twice weekly on Mondays and Saturdays. From January 11 to March 7, services will shift to Thursdays and Saturdays, followed by a reduction to one weekly flight on Saturdays from March 8 to March 28.

Introductory fares for the Maldives route start at 649 euros in Economy Class and 1,399 euros in Premium Class.

According to the latest figures from the Tourism Ministry, 29,511 French tourists have traveled to the Maldives so far this year, placing France as the seventh-largest source market for tourism. Overall, the Maldives has welcomed a total of 1.03 million tourists as of Saturday.