Fly from Mumbai Directly to Maafaru International Airport Starting this April!

Sunday 14th of March 2021

In his first appearance as Managing Director of Island Aviation, Mohamed Mihad in a joint press with Deputy Managing Director, Ms. Aishath Jennifer, has today announced the launch of direct flight operations between Mumbai (BOM) and Maafaru International Airport (NMF).

All preparations have been made for the inaugural flight from BOM to land in NMF on April 13. Flying three times a week, flights on this new route will connect one more international hub of the biggest source market to Maldives, India directly to the upcoming Northern region of Maldives. Surrounded by some of the most demanded upscale resorts in the destination and quite the number of guesthouses, adding up to over 10,000 tourist beds in 4 surrounding atolls, Island Aviation highlighted that key strategies have been discussed with both these and international stakeholders in preparations of launching the route. So far, the support has been very positive.

Diversifying the tourism potential in areas away from the central region of Maldives, travel time to atolls nearby Maafaru International Airport will now be reduced from an average of 2 hours to a mere 30-minute speed boat ride directly from Maafaru Airport. This potentially opens up more opportunities for stakeholders to strengthen their presence in the industry and make use of the gateway as a driving force for tourism in the region. As of today, 211 private jets landed in Maafaru Airport, bringing high-end tourists to nearby resorts.

As part of the smooth running of operations, a GSA have been appointed in India and collaborated marketing efforts are being pur in place. The aim of Island Aviation is to spread their wings further and assist not only tourism in the northern region, but the economy of the country as a whole. Both directly and indirectly. Furthermore, plans of connecting more destinations form India directly to the Maldives in the near future were revealed by the MD.

Maafaru International Airport can currently facilitate landing of short haul flights but the government has planned further development of the apron down the pipeline, allowing long haul flights from different parts of Europe to connect with the airport.  

Photos: Maldivian