Maldives Advances Two New Air Service Agreements to Boost Tourism and Connectivity
- Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Ameen says the Maldives is negotiating two new Air Service Agreements to boost tourist arrivals and connectivity.
- The government aims to attract visitors from new markets and fully utilise traffic rights, with concrete results expected soon.
- The push builds on recent ASAs signed with Ethiopia and Australia, enabling direct flights and expanding Maldivian's network.
The Minister of Civil Aviation, Mohamed Ameen, said the Maldivian government is currently negotiating two new Air Service Agreements (ASAs) to increase tourist arrivals and expand the nation’s aviation sector.
Speaking to state media, Minister Ameen outlined the government’s ongoing efforts to broaden the country’s international travel network. He noted that the primary objective is to fully utilise the traffic rights obtained through such agreements, ensuring the Maldives can tap into emerging tourist markets.
According to Minister Ameen, while earlier initiatives faced various hurdles, the current administration is actively working to overcome them. He said the government is working to achieve its tourism goals by attracting visitors from new destinations and expanding beyond the markets that currently contribute to the Maldives’ tourist arrivals.
The Minister acknowledged that establishing bilateral aviation treaties is a substantial undertaking that requires time. However, he expressed satisfaction with the current pace of the negotiations and assured that the concrete results of these two new agreements will be visible in the near future.
Air Service Agreements are vital commercial treaties established between two or more countries to regulate international flight operations. For the Maldives, a nation whose economy is heavily reliant on tourism and international air transport, these agreements are critical. They determine which airlines are permitted to operate, the number of available seats, and the specific markets that can be served, thereby directly influencing passenger influx.
This ongoing expansion builds upon recent successes in the aviation sector. The Maldives signed an air service agreement with Ethiopia on 21st July 2026, marking the sixth such treaty with an African nation. This agreement has paved the way for direct flights from Addis Ababa to the Maldives.
Furthermore, a similar agreement was formalised with Australia on 19th March 2026. The new Australian aviation pact aims to enhance bilateral connectivity, facilitating direct flight operations and opening new avenues for the national carrier, Maldivian.
By continuously broadening its network of international air service agreements, the Maldives aims to secure sustained economic growth and cement its position as a globally accessible premier tourist destination.
