Vistara has announced the launch of special, non-stop flights between Malé, Maldives and Mumbai, India starting early March.
The airline will fly three times a week to Male under India’s travel bubble agreement with the Maldives from 3rd March 2021. Vistara will deploy its Airbus A320neo aircraft with three-class cabin configuration on the routes, thus becoming the only airline to offer travelers the choice of Premium Economy in addition to Business and Economy cabins, on flights between India and the Maldives.
Bookings for the flights are being progressively opened on all channels, including Vistara’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents, the airline said.
“Our new service to the Maldives will give travelers greater access to one of India’s most-preferred holiday destinations,” Leslie Thng, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, was quoted in the statement. “We are delighted at the opportunity of taking India’s Best Airline to more places and offering the very best of air travel to people flying between India and the Maldives while maintaining the highest standards of safety and hygiene.”
In August 2020, Maldives and India agreed to establish an Air Bubble between the 2 countries. This is the first Air Bubble established in South Asia. The flights are arranged in a safe corridor provided by the local authorities where the tourists can travel straight to their respective resorts from the airport without any hassle, in absence of quarantine restrictions.
Last year, India was the top source market for tourism in the Maldives. According to statistics publicized by the Tourism Ministry, Indian tourists made up 11.3% of total tourist arrivals to the Maldives in 2020.
Maldives reopened borders to all nationalities from 15th July 2020. All visitors are granted a 30-day free on-arrival visa with a confirmed booking for a stay at any registered tourist facility in the country.
Maldives has also extended ‘Split Stay’ for all types of tourist accommodation facilities, allowing tourists to split their stay between resort, hotels, guesthouses and liveaboard boats, with prior approval as per split-stay procedure and guideline by the Ministry of Tourism.
While there is no mandatory quarantine or testing on arrival, tourists traveling to Maldives are required to complete an online health declaration form and provide a negative PCR test result taken at least 96 hours prior to their departure.
The negative PCR test result must be attached while completing Traveler Health Declaration form, which has to be submitted online via IMUGA (www.imuga.immigration.gov.mv), by all arriving passengers before arrival (but not exceeding 24 hours before arrival time).
