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Villa Air Flyme to suspend operations

Domestic airline Villa Air Flyme has announced plans to suspend its operations due to the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
In a circular sent to clients, Villa Air Managing Director Abdulla Nashid said all operations will be suspended indefinitely from Sunday.
However, aircraft and crew will be on standby at all times for charters and emergency flights, he said.
“We are more than confident that by working together with our clients, we will emerge stronger as we had successfully done so in the past,” the circular read.
Nashid assured his clients that Villa Air will be using the lull “to further enhance its services and efficiency for its passengers and clients”. Passengers can also expect “a number of surprises” in the fourth quarter of the year, he said.
“… [We] will be utilising this period to work on these plans,” the circular read.
Flyme, part of the Villa Group of Companies owned by local business tycoon Gasim Ibrahim, had its maiden flight on October 1, 2011 between Velana International Airport and Villa Air’s own domestic airport on the island of Maamigili in Alif Dhaal atoll.
The airline currently operates daily flights between Male and Maamigili, and serves another nine domestic airports across the archipelago with weekly services. In addition to catering to locals, Flyme carries tourists to the resorts in Alif Dhaal atoll, including Villa’s own Holiday Island Resort and Sun Island Resort and Spa.
The airline had in November welcomed a brand new 72-seat ATR 72-600 aircraft, expanding its fleet to three.
Villa Air’s announcement comes a week after another domestic airline, Manta Air, scaled back its operations due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
On March 8, Maldives reported its first cases of the novel coronavirus, as two hotel employees tested positive for Covid-19 at a luxury resort in the archipelago.
Twelve more cases — all foreigners working or staying resorts and liveaboard vessels except one Maldivian who had returned from the United Kingdom — were later identified.
However, nine out of the 14 have made full recoveries, whilst the rest are being treated at designated quarantine facilities.
The Maldives announced a state of public health emergency on March 12, the first such declaration under a recent public health protection law.
The public health emergency declaration has allowed the government to introduce a series of unprecedented restrictive and social distancing measures, including a ban on inter-island travel of tourists, including for excursions and between resort islands.
A nationwide shut down of all guesthouses and city hotels has also been ordered. Spa facilities located on inhabited islands have also been closed.
A blanket suspension of on-arrival visa was also imposed on Friday.
Even before the on-arrival visa suspension, the Maldives had closed its borders to arrivals from some of the worst-hit countries, including mainland China, Italy, Bangladesh, Iran, Spain, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Visitors from three regions of Germany (Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg), two regions of France (Île-de-France and Grand Est) and two regions of South Korea were also banned from entering the country.
All direct flights to and from China, Italy, South Korea and Iran were also cancelled.
Cruise ships and foreign yachts were also banned from docking at any of the country’s ports.
The Covid-19 outbreak has hit the Maldivian economy hard, as travel restrictions and other preventive measures affect the country’s lucrative tourism industry, which contributes the bulk of the island nation’s state revenue and foreign reserves.
Before the pandemic, the government had been bullish about tourism prospects, targeting two million, high-spending holidaymakers this year after last year’s record 1.7 million.
However, tourist arrivals saw a year-over-year decline of 22.8 per cent in the first 10 days of this month. With arrival numbers falling, several resorts across the Maldives had been closed.
Tourism has been the bedrock of the Maldives’ economic success. The $5 billion-dollar economy grew by 6.7 per cent in 2018 with tourism generating 60 per cent of foreign income.
However, the government is at present projecting a possible 5.6 per cent economic contraction this year — an estimated $446 million hit.
The government has launched an emergency MVR 2.5 billion ($161.84 million) facility and a package of financial measures to shore up the local economy against the coronavirus pandemic.
The MVR 2.5 billion stimulus plan includes MVR 1.55 billion ($100 million) in emergency loans for businesses to meet short-term working capital needs.
The emergency facility is complemented by a package of financial measures, including a six-month moratorium on principal and interest repayments for personal and business loans sanctioned by commercial banks.
Meanwhile, Bank of Maldives (BML) has announced a $2 million short-term financing facility for the tourism industry.
The facility by the country’s largest bank allows operational resorts and guesthouses finance up to $2 million to manage their working capital requirements, with a repayment period of three years.
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Summer Island Maldives named among top 10% of hotels worldwide by TripAdvisor

Summer Island Maldives has been recognised as one of the top travel destinations globally, having received the prestigious TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for 2024. This accolade places the resort among the top 10% of hotels worldwide, based on exceptional traveller reviews and ratings collected over the past year.
Located just 45 minutes by speedboat or a short seaplane journey from Velana International Airport, Summer Island Maldives offers an idyllic barefoot beach retreat. The resort is known for its personalised service, commitment to sustainability, and relaxed luxury, consistently appealing to travellers from around the world.
Mariya Shareef, Chief Operations Officer of Kaimoo Travels and Hotel Services, expressed appreciation for the recognition, noting that the award reflects the dedication and passion of the entire team, who work diligently to deliver memorable experiences. She highlighted that the honour is especially meaningful as it is based on genuine guest feedback.
A popular choice for honeymooners and returning guests, the resort features two restaurants, three bars, and a variety of curated experiences, including private sandbank picnics and sunset sailboat cruises. Summer Island Maldives is also widely praised for its strong sustainability practices, such as eliminating single-use plastics, integrating renewable energy solutions, adopting eco-friendly mosquito control methods, and creating the world’s largest 3D-printed coral reef—an initiative recognised by the Guinness World Records.
The TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards celebrate excellence in hospitality, with winners selected based on consistently high ratings across key categories such as service, value, cleanliness, and location.
This recent recognition joins a growing list of accolades for Summer Island Maldives, including TUI’s Global Hotel Quality Award for 2024 and 2025, as well as the Leading Eco-Friendly Resort Award at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) in 2023.
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Tripadvisor honours Constance Moofushi among Best of the Best Luxury Hotels in Asia

Constance Moofushi in the Maldives has been recognised as one of Asia’s premier luxury destinations, earning the 11th spot in the Best of the Best Luxury Hotels in Asia category at the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2025. This accolade highlights the resort’s dedication to delivering authentic and unforgettable luxury experiences in the heart of the Indian Ocean.
Situated on a private island, Constance Moofushi combines barefoot chic with exceptional service, offering guests a unique blend of natural beauty and refined comfort. The recognition reflects not only the resort’s appeal but also the consistently high level of guest satisfaction that has become synonymous with the Constance brand.
Part of the esteemed Constance Hotels & Resorts portfolio, Constance Moofushi contributes to the group’s widespread acclaim, with all properties ranked among the Top 10% of Hotels Worldwide by Tripadvisor. These honours underscore the group’s unwavering commitment to quality across its locations in the Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Rodrigues, and Madagascar.
The Travelers’ Choice Awards are especially meaningful as they are based entirely on genuine guest reviews and ratings from travellers around the globe. The recognition of Constance Moofushi stands as a testament to the resort’s ongoing pursuit of excellence and its embodiment of the Constance philosophy: ‘True by Nature.’
Featured
Ayada Maldives earns elite recognition in 2025 Travellers’ Choice Awards

Ayada Maldives has been recognised as one of TripAdvisor’s Best of the Best Hotels in the 2025 Travellers’ Choice Awards. This luxury private island resort earned the distinction of being named Best of the Best in the Maldives and secured a spot among the top 25 hotels in the world. This prestigious accolade is awarded to less than 1% of TripAdvisor’s eight million global listings. Additionally, Ayada Maldives received top honours in the highly regarded ‘Treat Yourself’ category.
The Travellers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best by TripAdvisor celebrate the pinnacle of excellence in the travel industry, acknowledging properties that consistently provide exceptional guest experiences based on outstanding reviews and ratings collected over a 12-month period.
This latest recognition further solidifies Ayada Maldives’ reputation for authentic luxury, warm hospitality, and thoughtfully curated experiences. Located in the pristine Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, the resort offers guests a serene and immersive retreat, carefully designed to promote relaxation, connection, and rejuvenation.
With its spacious overwater and beachfront villas, award-winning spa, elevated dining options, and tranquil natural surroundings, Ayada Maldives continues to stand out as the ideal destination for travellers seeking indulgence and renewal in a tropical paradise.
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