UAE's flydubai to launch Maldives flights

UAE budget carrier flydubai will launch a five times-a-week service to popular tourism destination the Maldives from 19 January.

The airline will fly from Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 2 to Ibrahim Nasir International Airport in the Indian Ocean islands’ capital Malé on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, the operator said.

“We anticipate a strong demand for flights from the GCC, in particular Kuwait, as well as markets such as Russia, CIS and Central & Eastern Europe,” CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said in a statement.

Flights on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays will depart Dubai at 18:55 local time, landing in Malé at 00:40. Return services on these days will leave the Maldives at 01:40 local time arriving in Dubai at 05:40.

On Saturdays and Sundays, services will depart Dubai at 00:30 local time and arrive at 06:15. Return flights leave Malé at 07:15 and arrive back in the UAE at 11:15.

The carrier now serves a network of more than 50 destinations across 32 countries across the GCC, Middle East, North Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Asia and Central and Eastern Europe.