Maldivian is expanding domestic flight capacity for the school holiday period, as increased movement between islands is expected to place additional pressure on the national carrier’s network.
The airline has added more than 320 domestic flights across its network between 10 July and 4 August 2026. The additional services will take the total number of domestic flights during the period to more than 2,000, with overall seat capacity reaching around 110,000.
According to Maldivian, the added flights will provide more than 18,000 extra seats compared to the base schedule, increasing domestic capacity by 17 percent. The airline said roughly one in every six flights during the holiday period will be an additional service introduced to meet higher passenger demand.
Maldivian will also deploy its Airbus A320 aircraft on selected domestic routes, including services to Gan International Airport and Hanimaadhoo International Airport. The use of larger aircraft is aimed at increasing capacity on high-demand routes during the peak travel window.
The expansion comes as school holidays typically lead to a rise in domestic travel by families, students and holidaymakers. For an island nation where air connectivity plays a central role in internal mobility, the additional capacity is expected to support smoother travel across the country during one of the busiest domestic travel periods of the year.
Ibrahim Iyas, Managing Director of Island Aviation Services Limited, said the airline’s domestic network remains important for connecting communities across the Maldives. He noted that Maldivian opens booking and ticketing up to 365 days in advance, while adding more flights during peak periods to accommodate higher demand.
Maldivian currently serves 17 domestic airports and operates both domestic and international services. Its fleet includes one A320, one A330-200, eight Dash 8 aircraft, eleven DHC-6 Twin Otters and five ATR aircraft.
