Perdana, Flydubai Aeronautics To Gan Maldives Airport

Illustration of a fleet of flydubai airlines. (Wikimedia Commons/Anna Zvereva)

JAKARTA - Tourists wishing to travel to the Maldives of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will soon have another way to achieve one of the world's most famous tourist destinations.

This is after low-tariff airline flydubai will launch flights to Gan International Airport at the southern end of the Indian Ocean islands, starting February.

The airline will operate daily flights to its second-largest international airport in the Maldives starting February 4, making it the first UAE airline to operate to Gan, a former British Royal Air Force base.

Located perfect for travelers flying to South Atoll, the airport is located near several resorts, including the Equator Village, Canareef Resort Maldives and Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa Maldives.

Along with the existing flights to Velana International Airport on Male, the flydubai will operate 28 services a week between Dubai and the Maldives starting February.

"The start of our daily flight to Gan's southern island will give our passengers more options to travel to the beautiful Maldives. This new service will reduce travel time by either, by ship or amphibious aircraft for those living in resorts in South Atoll," explained Ghaith Al Ghaith, chief executive at flydubai., reported The National News October 13.

"Maldives continues to be one of our most popular recreational destinations for our customers from the UAE, GCC and CIS. Additional frequencies to the market will further support connecting traffic from Europe as well," he continued.

The plan is for Gan's flight to leave Dubai just after 9 a.m., arrive in the Maldives at 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Every other day of the week, flights leave Dubai at 2.30 a.m., with travelers landing at Atol Addu just after 09.00 p.m. All based on local time.

Despite flydubai's reputation as a low-cost airline, economic rates on routes ranging from 4,050 UAE dirhams (Rp17,154,114) and business class fares will make tourists return to 7,400 UAE dirhams (Rp31,343,320).

However, travelers living in the south, flying to Gan can reduce resort transfer costs as nearby islands can be reached via short speed boats instead of amphibious plane transfers, if they come from Male.

It is known, first built by the British Royal Navy, Gan International Airport was originally operated on a runway. The airport welcomed its first aircraft, the Royal Air Force Westland Walrus, nearly 80 years ago.

In 1976, Britain handed over the airport to the Maldives Government and began its new period as a domestic airport, before being upgraded to support international flights.