Maldives Faces Over 490 Flight Cancellations Amid Middle East Tensions, Gov’t Reveals

The ongoing war in the Middle East has led to significant disruptions in air travel, resulting in 496 cancelled flights to the Maldives so far, according to the government.

Minister of Tourism and Environment Thoriq Ibrahim provided the update during a press briefing by the special ministerial committee established to address the impacts of the conflict. He stated that average daily tourist arrivals have decreased by 1,150 visitors this month due to the disruption in regional flights.

The government is prioritising the restoration of flight frequencies and the introduction of new airline operations. Negotiations are underway with carriers, including Ethiopian Airlines, to begin additional flights to the Maldives. Efforts are also being made to attract airlines from other countries to compensate for the reduced air connectivity.

Tourism statistics indicate that more than 600,000 tourists have arrived in the Maldives so far this year. This month alone, 143,000 tourists arrived, representing an 18 percent decline compared to the same period last year.

Authorities are also providing support to the tourism sector. Bank of Maldives (BML) is assisting resorts facing financial challenges, while digital marketing campaigns targeting key markets such as India, China and ASEAN countries are being intensified. The campaigns are expected to reach over 200 million impressions and aim to boost tourist arrivals from these regions.

The air travel disruptions are linked to recent military strikes in the region, including US and Israeli actions against Iran, and subsequent Iranian retaliatory attacks. The conflict has heavily affected flight operations in countries such as the UAE and Qatar, which normally provide the highest volume of tourist arrivals to the Maldives. As a result, thousands of visitors have been stranded in the country, and a significant number of future bookings have been cancelled.