Various Indian airlines have scheduled flights to the Maldives as the country is reopening once again to tourists from South Asian countries including India.
Reopening
Maldives has officially confirmed that it is reopening to travellers from South Asian countries including India from 15th July 2021. Presently, travellers can only stay on stand-alone resorts and islands and will only be able to stay in local guesthouses from 30th July 2021 onwards. A list of approved resorts can be found on the Maldivian government’s website here.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for travellers coming from India are simple compared to some other countries. All passengers above the age of one must present a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken within the last 96 hours. This means your test sample must be collected at least 96 hours before your arrival in the Maldives. Note that those who are fully vaccinated also need to present a negative RT-PCR test.
Additionally, passengers are also required to fill in a self-health declaration, with a copy of their negative test, before 24 hours of their arrival.
The restrictions are more relaxed than other countries, which usually require samples taken 48 or 72 hours before arrival. However, this will allow passengers more than enough time to get their testing in order. In response to the reopening, various Indian airlines have scheduled flights to the Island paradise.
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Headed to Maldives
The big three Indian low-cost carriers – Indigo, SpiceJet and GoFirst have announced flights to the Maldives.
Indigo:
Indigo will have the most flights to Maldives with nonstop connectivity from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Kochi.
Indigo will operate 3-weekly flights between Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Malé’s Velana International Airport starting 16th July 2021. As of 21st July 2021, the airline will fly daily between India’s financial capital and the capital of Maldives.
Starting 21st July 2021, India’s largest low-cost carrier will fly 4-times-a-week between Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and Malé’s Velana International Airport. Furthermore, the carrier will increase the frequency to daily as of 1st August 2021.
There will be daily flights by Indigo between Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport and Malé and also between Kochi’s Cochin International Airport and Malé.
GoFirst:
GoFirst will operate twice-weekly flights from Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru to Malé and will increase it to 4-weekly from August. From 1st September, the airline will fly daily between these 3 Indian cities and Malé.
SpiceJet:
A new entrant to the Maldives market will be SpiceJet. The carrier announced last week that it would offer flights to Malè from Kochi and Mumbai from late July, officially marking the entry of all major Indian airlines into the Maldives market.
Vistara and Air India:
While Vistara’s Mumbai-Malé service is not yet available for sale, Air India will not start flights from Delhi, Bangalore, or Trivandrum until early August.
Maldivian:
Maldivian Airways will be resuming twice-weekly service to Kochi.
Important for Maldives
For Maldives and its economy, opening up to travellers from India will be a huge boost. India was the largest market for tourism arrival last year and in early 2021, prior to the ban. With borders opening tomorrow, expect to see thousands of more passengers arrive every week as grounded and excited travelers take to the skies internationally once again.
Featured image by Indigo
What do you think of Maldives reopening to South Asian countries? Are you excited to once again visit the Island paradise? Let me know in the comments section below.
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