flydubai takes off to the Maldives

Friday, 16 November 2012 02:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Low-cost carrier flydubai will launch flights to Malé, the capital of the Republic of Maldives, from 19 January.

Flights will operate five times a week between Dubai’s Terminal 2 and the Maldives’ Ibrahim Nasir International Airport on the island of Malé. Return fares from Dubai to Malé start at AED 1,730. “We are very excited about adding Malé to our destination network,” said flydubai’s CEO, Ghaith Al Ghaith.

“As the first low-cost carrier from the UAE to fly to the Maldives, we are making this island paradise even more accessible to travellers across our network. We anticipate a strong demand for flights from the GCC, in particular Kuwait, as well as markets such as Russia, CIS and Central and Eastern Europe. This will be our first launch in 2013 and we look forward to welcoming passengers from across our network to this wonderful country.”

The country has been ranked among the top tourist destinations in the world and is particularly popular amongst travellers from Russia, CIS and GCC. According to a report from the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation, Middle East tourists to the island nation increased 77.8% in the first quarter of 2012, compared to the same period last year.

This can be attributed to the opening of a number of Middle East-based hotel chains, such as Jumeirah Group’s Vittaveli Maldives which opened in December 2011.

The Maldives will be the latest addition to flydubai’s growing network of more than 50 destinations in 32 countries, spanning the GCC, Middle East, North Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Asia and Central and Eastern Europe.