The government is diversifying its international aviation partnerships and expanding flight frequencies to shield the nation’s tourism-dependent economy from disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen confirmed. Following the cancellation of 626 scheduled flights to date, a cabinet-level committee has moved to reduce reliance on Middle Eastern transit hubs by securing routes with carriers less affected by regional volatility.
The administration is finalising preparations to launch Ethiopian Airlines service within a fortnight. "We anticipate executing an air service agreement with Ethiopia within the next one to two weeks, as it is a highly formidable airline operating within our region," Minister Ameen stated, adding that "we will successfully finalise this arrangement as well."
Belavia Belarusian Airlines is scheduled to commence operations on 1 August, coinciding with the launch of the national carrier Maldivian’s flights to Australia. "A tremendous amount of success is currently being achieved through these collaborative initiatives," Minister Ameen added.
While services from Qatar Airways and Emirates have resumed, passenger volumes remain below pre-conflict levels. To address this shortfall, the ministry negotiated enhanced schedules for Edelweiss Air, AirAsia, Air India, and Turkish Airlines. These adjustments, alongside a directive to attract private jet arrivals, have surged weekly arrivals by 25 per cent.
"Consequently, when evaluating the total volume of flights, the broader impact on the nation has been effectively mitigated," Minister Ameen explained. However, the sector still faces financial headwinds, as surging global oil prices have driven jet fuel costs and commercial ticket prices up by approximately 40 per cent.