Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has revealed flights to the Maldives have significantly increased, with flights from 39 destinations arriving in the country.
Statistics from MACL shows the current number of destinations connected to the Maldives is an 11 percent increase compared to 2019, during which 35 destinations were connected to the Maldives. Currently, flights from 25 countries are connected to the Maldives, which is a 32% increase compared to 2019, during which flights from 19 countries were connected to the Maldives. The statistics also show that flights from 34 international airlines travelled to the Maldives in the first six months of 2019, and currently, 36 international airlines travel to the Maldives.
However, the statistics of the air traffic control movements show that 10,798 international flights arrived in the Maldives, which is a 23% decrease compared to the 14,048 flights in 2019. Passengers to the Maldives have also decreased by 45%, with 1 million passengers arriving in the first six months of 2019 and 545,843 passengers arriving in the same period this year.
The government closed the borders on March 27 last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and re-opened after 110 days on July 15. The statistics show the economy and tourism industry of the Maldives have been recovering despite the difficulties faced due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.