Domestic Airfares Held Flat for Three Years by Maldives to Protect Island Tourism

The Maldivian government has held domestic flight prices flat for the past three years to insulate island guesthouses and local tourism from global inflationary pressures.

Speaking during an ‘Ahaa’ public town-hall forum, the Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen addressed queries from citizens regarding high domestic travel expenses and regional tourism development. Local guesthouse operators had previously raised concerns that elevated airfares create operational hurdles and hinder tourist arrivals across the outer atolls.

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Global energy market volatility has driven international airlines to raise ticket prices by 30 to 40 per cent over recent years. However, Minister Ameen clarified that official policy actively shielded domestic air routes from these external price shocks.

“Over the past three years, we have not increased the price of any domestic flight ticket or the fare for any sector,” Minister Ameen stated. He added that the administration has recently reduced ticket costs for passengers travelling for local guesthouse businesses below their previous levels.

Aviation operators repeatedly submitted proposals to adjust domestic fares to offset mounting operational expenses. On three separate occasions, the proposed price increases were blocked by President Muizzu, instructing airline managements to seek revenue growth through alternative channels instead of passing costs onto passengers.

The government highlighted that protecting residents, local businesses, and the broader tourism sector from rising living costs remains a central economic priority for the administration.