Middle East Strife Spurs Flight Delays, But Maldives Impact May Be Contained, Says Minister Ameen

Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen has confirmed that the government is closely monitoring the implications of escalating hostilities in the Middle East on air travel to the Maldives, particularly regarding arrivals from the region and Western countries. Recent disruptions, including delays caused by the temporary closure of regional airspace, have now eased with the reopening of affected routes.

Hostilities in the Middle East have intensified in recent weeks, with the Zionist State of Israel launching airstrikes on Iran on 13 June, prompting retaliatory action from Tehran. The conflict escalated on 22 June, when the United States, Israel's primary supporter, carried out strikes on Iranian targets. Iran responded by striking a US military base in Qatar. In the aftermath, several regional governments, including Qatar, imposed temporary airspace closures. These restrictions have since been lifted.

Attention has turned to evaluating fluctuations in international air traffic, with Minister Ameen elaborating that detailed efforts are under way to assess emerging patterns, particularly those concerning flights transporting tourists from Western nations. He noted that several carriers experienced delays en route to Malé due to the closures in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

"Tonight's temporary airspace closures in parts of the Middle East are now easing," the minister said. Despite broader geopolitical tensions, he expressed confidence that the impact on tourism and connectivity would be limited. "Some Middle Eastern carriers at Malé Airport experienced delays, but departures are now resuming. IA, we pray for a return to standard travel patterns with minimal disruption to the Maldives," he added.