News Desk
The government has reduced the price of jet fuel and increased available flight slots for the summer season as part of efforts to reverse a decline in tourist arrivals, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Ameen said at a press conference at the President’s Office on Tuesday.
The minister said jet fuel prices were cut from USD 1.90 to USD 1.60 per litre effective 15 May, a move aimed at making the Maldives more attractive to airlines looking at route economics for the season.
On flight cancellations, he said around 90 flights a week were being cancelled in the early days of the Middle East conflict that disrupted Gulf transit routes. That number has since come down. The minister said the cancellation rate has been reduced by 22 percent, bringing weekly cancellations to around 70 flights. Major Gulf carriers including Emirates and Qatar Airways have resumed operations to the Maldives.
He said the number of passengers arriving in the Maldives is up two percent compared to the same period last year, and that seat capacity options for travellers coming to the Maldives will be no lower than last year by the end of the season.
The government has been under pressure from the tourism industry since arrivals dropped 15 to 20 percent in March and April. Industry groups have estimated losses of more than USD 500 million since March. A Cabinet committee is separately assessing further support measures for the sector.
