Emirates has resumed its scheduled flights to the Maldives after a four-month suspension.
The airline had suspended services to the Maldives because of unrest in the Middle East. Emirates has also resumed scheduled flights to neighbouring Sri Lanka.
The daily services operate as an extension of Emirates' Dubai–Malé flight, EK652. After arriving in Malé, the aircraft continues to Colombo. The return service, EK653, operates from Colombo, stopping in Malé before returning to Dubai. The airline is using Boeing 777 aircraft on the route.
Emirates is one of the leading airlines bringing tourists to the Maldives. The resumption of its services is expected to improve connectivity for travellers to destinations across the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.
Tourism industry experts also believe the return of the airline's services will strengthen tourism and trade ties between the Maldives and the United Arab Emirates, while also improving connectivity with Sri Lanka.
The closure of regional airspace during the unrest in the Middle East caused significant disruption to Emirates' network. According to available statistics, more than 30,000 flights were cancelled across airports in the region. Around 30% of tourists travelling to the Maldives arrive via Middle Eastern routes.
Emirates has been gradually rebuilding its network, resuming services to more than 110 destinations by mid-March. The airline is now operating flights on revised routes that have been assessed and verified as safe.
The conflict also affected other major Gulf carriers, including Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, resulting in widespread flight cancellations.
Following joint efforts by the Maldivian government and tourism industry stakeholders to minimise the impact of the disruption, many airlines have resumed services to the Maldives, while some have increased the frequency of their flights.
The resumption of Emirates' Maldives and Sri Lanka services is expected to provide a further boost to Sri Lanka's export sector and the Maldives' tourism industry. Emirates has served both countries for more than three decades.