News Desk
Russia’s largest private carrier, S7 Airlines, will start scheduled direct flights to the Maldives on October 30, marking the first time a carrier will link the country directly to a Russian destination outside Moscow.
According to Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), S7 Airlines will operate twice-weekly flights connecting Novosibirsk to Velana International Airport (VIA). The flights will run every Monday and Friday using Airbus A320neo aircraft.
Following the announcement, major Russian tour operator TEZ Tour rolled out special promotional packages for travelers heading to the Maldives, featuring early-bird resort discounts of up to 50 percent.
The upcoming launch comes after an official trip to Russia by Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Ameen. Minister Ameen stated that seven more airlines are set to start flying to the Maldives in the final quarter of this year, a move aimed at expanding the market and bringing in more visitors from different parts of Russia.
Russia remains the second-largest source market for Maldivian tourism. Government figures show 222,796 Russian tourists have visited the country so far this year, making up 14.7 percent of all arrival figures.
Industry players expect direct connections from Novosibirsk, a major Siberian hub, to offer huge convenience to travelers who previously had to lay over in Moscow, giving a fresh push to arrival numbers from the Russian market.
