Photo Credit: Velana International Airport
British Airways has resumed its flights from Heathrow Airport, London to Velana International Airport, Male’, with three weekly flights on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Initially, the flight operations had resumed but were halted once again when the UK went into lockdown last month. Now, the airline has resumed operations again just in time for the holiday season so tourists can unwind and relax in the white-sand, sunny beaches of the Maldives, away from the worries of quarantine. The Boeing 777 aircraft is to be used allowing travelers convenient travel departures, enabling domestic and European connections as well.
In adherence to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, British Airways has introduced a range of health and safety measures to ensure the safety of customers and their staff. They encourage everyone to abide by the new measures. Some of these measures include checking-in online, keeping an online copy of their boarding pass, and self-scanning them at the departure gates. Besides, passengers are required to wear masks at all times and observe physical distancing. Hand sanitization is also encouraged at all times; hand sanitizers are placed throughout all airports.
The resorts and guest houses in the Maldives have also taken the necessary health and safety measures as well, before their reopening. This is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of tourists as well as locals.
The UK is one of the top source markets in terms of tourist arrivals to the Maldives. Prior to the lockdown in March, there were a total of 7,288 visitors. Since the reopening in July, there have been over 1,500 arrivals.
