The islandchief

South African Airways to Start Direct Flights to Gan International Airport

Maldives

PUBLISHED August 02, 2018

The government of the Maldives has announced that South African Airways will be introducing direct flights between Johannesburg and Maldives south in November.

According to the Tourism Minister Moosa Zameer, the onset of direct flights to South Africa would provide a much-needed tourism boost to southernmost Atoll Addu.

"Flights from Africa would definitely provide a boost to tourism and trade in Addu. This would also give an added incentive to increase bed capacity in the Atoll," Explains Minister Zameer.

The flights would commence from November 24 carrying 300 tourists weekly and would operate to the recently revamped Gan International Airport (GIA). Airbus A340 will be used for the flight operation and 3 weekly flights will be scheduled, the tourism minister revealed.

Air Tour Operator (ATO) handling the operations also expressed the initiative would also enhance ties with South Africa while hoping the weekly flights will ease the travel for South African nationals.

Furthermore, the Managing Director of Gan International Airport Mohamed Latheef revealed that the airport has now been prepared to accommodate the largest aircraft in operation. Currently, Sri Lankan airlines conduct direct flights between Addu City and Colombo.

Tourists from South Africa arrive in the Maldives after a 12-hour long flight, adding the direct flights will shorten the flight duration to 7 hours. As a result, tourist arrivals from South Africa is expected to increase to 18,000 from the current 9,000 arrivals recorded.

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