Private jet arrivals to the Maldives have risen significantly in recent weeks, coinciding with disruptions to commercial air travel linked to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Data released by Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) shows that 128 private jets landed in the country between 28 February and 14 March, representing a 166 percent increase compared to 70 arrivals recorded during the same period last year.
The increase is also reflected in daily arrival patterns. Average daily private jet traffic has risen from around five arrivals last year to more than twelve during the recent period. The highest number of arrivals on a single day was recorded on 3 March, when 18 private jets landed in the Maldives.
The Maldives Association for Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) stated that the increase is linked to the situation in the Middle East, which has affected a key transit region for travellers to the Maldives. With some commercial flights cancelled, a segment of travellers has shifted to private aviation.
