Flight Numbers Drop But Seat Occupancy Rises Amid Middle East Conflict, Says Tourism Minister

Tourism and Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim has stated that while the number of flights to the Maldives has declined due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, seat occupancy on operating flights has increased significantly.

The update was shared during a press conference by the Crisis Committee, which was established to monitor and mitigate the impact of the conflict on the Maldives. The minister said average seat occupancy rose from 65 percent to 70 percent last month, indicating stronger demand for available flights despite reduced frequency.

He noted that although fewer flights are operating, demand among travellers remains high, with visitors continuing to find alternative routes to reach the Maldives.

Government data shows notable increases in seat occupancy across several airlines. Aeroflot recorded an increase from 84 percent to 95 percent, while Virgin Atlantic reached 90 percent occupancy. Singapore Airlines saw occupancy rise from 64 percent to 78 percent, Turkish Airlines from 77 percent to 92 percent, and SriLankan Airlines from 55 percent to 79 percent.

The minister highlighted that resorts have continued active marketing efforts during this period, helping to sustain the Maldives’ position as a premium tourist destination despite external challenges.

He also stated that the government is implementing measures to increase flight frequency. As part of these efforts, Turkish Airlines is set to increase its weekly flights from five to six during the summer season, with plans under discussion to expand services further from 10 to 14 weekly flights by the end of the year.