Russian airline, Azur Air, resumes direct flights to the Maldives

The Russian airline, Azur Air, has resumed direct flights from Moscow, Russia to Male, Maldives.

The Boeing-777 flight landed at Velana International Airport on 28 November 2020, recording a favorable number of passengers of 500 tourists in that single flight, since the pandemic. The airline will operate once a week for the holiday season, increasing flights once demand rises.

Previously, Azur Air stated, “Azur Air is expanding the possibilities of Russian tourists to spend their holidays in the Maldives. On November 28, regular flights from Moscow to Male will open on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The program is scheduled once a week, on Saturdays, for the entire autumn-winter season.”  

Azur Air, formerly Katekavia and stylized as Azur Air, is a charter airline and former regional airline in Russia. Initially, it was based out of Krasnoyarsk Cheremshanka Airport, the domestic airport serving Krasnoyarsk, and its destinations were all within the Krasnoyarsk Krai.

As one of the leading tourist markets of the Maldives, Russia increased arrivals to the Maldives by 29.6% in 2020, compared to January 2019.

All travelers must provide a negative PCR test prior to their arrival in the Maldives. The PCR test must include relevant details such as the name and address of the laboratory that performed the testing, result of the test, date of testing as well as name and signature of the issuing officer. It must be submitted to Maldives Immigration via its IMUGA platform (imuga.immigration.gov.mv) when filling out the Traveler Health Declaration.