Photo: Maldives Airports Company Limited
The Maldives is reinforcing its role as a global tourism hub as rising private jet arrivals and additional airline services offset aviation disruptions linked to unrest in the Middle East.
Recent data from Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) shows a sharp rise in private aviation traffic. A total of 128 private jets landed in the Maldives between 28 February and 14 March, a 166 percent increase compared to the same period last year when 70 aircraft arrived.
The figures indicate a clear shift in travel patterns among high-end travellers seeking direct access to the island destination.
Private jet arrivals more than double
The surge reflects a growing preference for private aviation as travellers adjust to cancellations and delays affecting major transit routes across the Middle East.Last year the Maldives recorded an average of five private jet arrivals per day during the same period, with a single-day peak of nine aircraft. This year the average has risen to more than twelve daily arrivals, with a record eighteen jets landing on 3 March alone.
The increase highlights the Maldives’ capacity to accommodate premium travel demand even during periods of global aviation uncertainty.
Maafaru airport emerges as private aviation hub
Velana International Airport remains the country’s main gateway for international travellers. At the same time, Maafaru International Airport has emerged as a specialised hub for private aviation.During the recent peak tourism season, more than 25 private jets were parked simultaneously on the apron at Maafaru, the highest level of traffic the facility has handled.
Airport expansion has played a key role in accommodating the growth in ultra-luxury travel. According to airport management, the expansion increased parking capacity to around 800 aircraft movements annually. In previous seasons the airport had to turn away between 50 and 80 aircraft due to limited apron space.
In 2025, Maafaru handled 804 private jet movements, a 38 percent increase from 579 movements the year before. December alone recorded 102 movements, averaging more than three aircraft per day.
Bookings during the December to January peak period pushed total movements for those two months above 200.
The Maldives has also seen strong demand from the ultra-luxury segment during peak holiday periods. Over the New Year season, at least eight superyachts anchored in Maldivian waters while dozens of private jets arrived to transport high-net-worth travellers to resorts across the archipelago.
Airlines expand services to Maldives
Commercial airlines are also responding to shifting travel demand by adding flights to the Maldives as travellers seek alternatives to traditional Middle Eastern transit routes.Edelweiss Air will expand its service between Zurich and Malé during April and May 2026. From 3 April to 8 May, the airline will increase the route from three to four weekly flights. Between 12 April and 27 April, frequencies will rise further to five flights per week.
Air India has also announced a temporary expansion of international operations to address disruptions affecting global travel. The carrier plans to operate 78 additional flights between 10 and 18 March across nine routes linking Delhi and Mumbai with destinations including Malé, Colombo and major European and American hubs.
The airline is deploying the Airbus A320neo on expanded India–Maldives services, adding approximately 17,660 seats across its revised network. The additional flights use alternative routes that bypass affected airspace in West Asia, helping maintain reliable travel options for tourists and business travellers.
Meanwhile Aeroflot is adding extra flights between Moscow and several tourist destinations, including Malé, Bangkok, Phuket and Colombo. The airline said the expansion responds to increased tourist demand and provides travel options for passengers whose flights with foreign carriers were cancelled due to instability in the Middle East.
Destination resilience strengthens tourism outlook
Maldives’ diversified air access and specialised infrastructure for private aviation allow the destination to remain accessible even when global travel patterns shift.With expanded commercial flights and rising private aviation traffic, the country continues to demonstrate resilience as a premium tourism destination, maintaining connectivity for both luxury and mainstream travellers despite ongoing aviation disruptions in key transit regions.
Source: visitmaldives.com, retrieved 16 March 2026