Entering the Indian market, Mega Maldives Airlines will start direct flights connecting the national capital and Male this month as the carrier looks to tap the growth potential in tourism.
The carrier will have flights from the national capital to Male on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday while the services from Male will be on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
It will be operating Boeing 737-800 aircraft with a configuration of 12 business class and 156 economy class seats.
"We are thrilled with the positive response both in India and in Maldives to our new India services. The resort and hospitality community of Maldives is clearly throwing open their doors to an excited and dynamic Indian market," said Mega Maldives airline founder and CEO George Weinmann.
The airline is also planning to start Mumbai-Male service, twice a week, soon and is in talks with few Indian carriers for code-share partnership.
“Maldives is increasingly popular among the Indian tourists with more than 52,000 arrivals in 2015 and it is growing at 21 per cent per year. The economy of Male is going to get more benefits because of this new flight," Maldives Ambassador to India Ahmed Mohamed said.
The airline has a fleet of five aircraft and it operates to 15 destinations. It has a market share of 10-15 per cent in Maldives.
From January to August this year, 35,000 Indians have visited Maldives. India accounts for 5 per cent of total arrivals in Maldives.
Till now, north-India does not have a direct connection to Maldives. Currently, Air India and SpiceJet operate flights from south-India to Male.
According to the airline, over 52,000 Indian tourists arrived in Maldives last year and the numbers are growing at over 20 per cent annually.
BW Reporters
Haider Ali Khan is an alumnus of IIMC. He holds a degree in English Journalism from the prestigious campus. His passion includes Aviation, Technology, Politics and Sports.
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