Island Aviation Services Limited (IASL) has revealed that the national airline, Maldivian, will have daily additional flights from Gan in Addu City to Kooddoo in Gaafu Alifu Atoll to supplement Flydubai’s daily flights from Dubai to Gan. The flights will start on February 4, 2023.
Speaking to PSM News, Deputy Managing Director of IASL Aishath Jennifer said that one of the three ATR aircraft to be brought from abroad will be used in connecting flights between Gan and Koodoo. For domestic flights, the airline will operate two ATR 72 aircraft and one ATR 42 aircraft. She stated that the new aircraft are low in fuel consumption and low maintenance costs. In addition to the ATR aircraft, she said the company's regular aircraft will also be used on the connection flights.
Additionally, Jennifer said that Flydubai is preparing to launch direct flights to Addu. She said that the biggest concern of the authorities is to facilitate the transportation system for tourists travelling to Addu. She said that the main objective of the connection flight to Gan and Koodoo is to enable tourists arriving in Addu from Flydubai to reach their destination quickly without having to wait.
Furthermore, Jennifer said that the national airline has received two of its three ATR aircraft for domestic flights, however, it has yet to be brought to the Maldives from abroad. She said that the delay in bringing the aircraft to the Maldives was due to delays in completing the necessary documents due to government holidays in many countries abroad. However, she said she hopes to bring the aircraft by the first week of January.
The national airline stated that the vessels are being brought in to renew the fleet of aircraft used for domestic flights.