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Spain’s Iberia launches Maldives flights with three weekly services
Iberia on Saturday began flight operations to the Maldives.
The Spanish flag carrier’s maiden flight — an A-330/300 EC-LYF jet with 218 passengers — landed at the Maldives’ main Velana International Airport Saturday afternoon.
Until August 30, the Spanish airline will operate three weekly flights to the Maldives, departing from Madrid on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and returning on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Both outgoing and incoming flights are timed for easy connections in Madrid to other Iberia destinations in Spain and the rest of Europe
Iberia’s first Indian Ocean destination
Iberia will use Airbus A-330/200 and A330/300 on the route, with capacity for 288-292 passengers, respectively.
On its Airbus A330/300, Iberia offers Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins.
“The Maldives route represents Iberia’s first Indian Ocean destination, which happens to be one of the safest from Covid-19,” Iberia’s Commercial, Network Development & Alliances Director, María Jesús López Solás, said.
“Without a doubt, Maldives in one of our star products for this summer, and at Iberia we are committed to opening up new markets and to attracting sustainable, quality tourism.”
Since Iberia announced its new route, major tour operators have also designed packages and reserved blocks of seats on the new flights. Initially, Iberia scheduled two weekly frequencies, but has since increased the frequency to three.
“It is a special privilege to welcome Iberia, the flagship carrier of Spain on its maiden voyage. The direct flights from Madrid to Maldives will surely open doors for a much stronger European connection in the days ahead,” Gordon Andrew Stewart, CEO and Managing Director of Maldives Airports Company Limited, said.
“We are confident that Iberia will add value to our airport and boost Maldives tourism. I would like to convey my special thanks on behalf of Maldives Airports Company Ltd to the Iberia team for choosing Velana International Airport in their route expansion.”
Iberia is flying to the one of the safest airports in the world. Tackling Covid-19 pandemic Velana International Airport has kept its high standard measures assuring passenger’s safety. As a result on September 2020, it was awarded the ACI Health Accreditation certificate as the second airport from Asia Pacific and on January 2021 received the ACI Voice of the customer recognition award.
“Iberia Airlines’ maiden voyage to the Maldives from Spain represents a new step for the Maldivian tourism industry and the connectivity between Southern Europe and the Maldives,” Thoyyib Mohamed, Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation, said.
“Iberia Airlines commitment and trust in the Maldives is yet another example of the industry’s belief that Maldives is one of the safest destinations to travel to right now. With our targeted marketing efforts in the Spanish market, we look forward to welcoming travellers from Spain and Southern Europe to the sunny side of life.”
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has been nominated in the “Resort” category of the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026, one of the travel industry’s recognised measures of guest preference and brand standing.
Located in Raa Atoll, the resort is continuing to build its profile through its all-Club concept, service model and guest experiences shaped by both location and programme. As the Maldives’ first all-Club InterContinental resort, the property includes a set of signature benefits with each stay, including daily breakfast, afternoon tea and evening aperitif.
The resort features 81 beach, lagoon and overwater villas and residences, along with seven restaurants and bars. Its guest offering combines private accommodation with a range of tailored experiences, including manta ray encounters in the Maamunagau lagoon, customised Dining by Design experiences, visiting wellness practitioners and its Artist in Residence programme.
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is also positioned to serve both couples and families, through its family offering and adults-only Retreat enclave.
The nomination reflects continued recognition for a resort that combines service, experience-led programming and a natural setting within one of the Maldives’ established tourism atolls.
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort has introduced its Family Fun Summer offer, aimed at families seeking longer island stays built around shared activities and rest. The offer is available for booking from 15 April to 15 June 2026, with a minimum stay of four nights for travel through to 20 December 2026.
Located within Baa Atoll, the Maldives’ first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is positioning the offer around family wellness, marine experiences and time spent together in a natural island setting. Seasonal snorkelling with manta rays in Hanifaru Bay remains one of the area’s key attractions, while the resort’s collection of beach and overwater villas is designed to accommodate families looking for space and flexibility during their stay.
For larger families and groups, the resort also offers the two-bedroom Heavenly Beach Residence, which includes a living room, kitchen and dining area intended to support longer and more relaxed island stays.
The resort says the guest experience can be shaped around both activity and downtime, supported by Westin’s Sleep Well concept and Heavenly Bed. Children have access to the Westin Family Kids Club, which includes a children’s pool and pirate ship, while parents can make use of Heavenly Spa by Westin.
Away from the villa, the resort is also promoting shared family experiences through Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy activities focused on the culture and environment of Baa Atoll. These include traditional lacquer craft workshops, visits to local islands and guided marine activities in surrounding waters.
The Family Fun Summer package includes three meals per day, with children under 12 dining free of charge. It also includes a one-time dolphin cruise for two adults and two children, a 30-minute photography session with one printed photo, and a USD 150 resort credit.
Reethi Faru Resort has been recognised at the 2026 Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards, receiving honours in four categories: Best Beach Villa in Indian Ocean, Best Pool Villa in Indian Ocean, Best Eco-Friendly Resort in Maldives, and Best Sustainable Hotel in Maldives.
The awards recognise performance across villa accommodation and environmentally focused hospitality, reflecting the resort’s emphasis on guest experience alongside sustainability and environmental stewardship.
According to the resort, the recognition supports its positioning within the Maldives market as a property that combines natural surroundings, accommodation standards and responsible hospitality practices.
Located on Filaidhoo in Raa Atoll, Reethi Faru Resort features 145 villas, including beachfront and overwater accommodation designed in a style that combines Maldivian elements with contemporary comfort.
The resort’s food and beverage offering includes six restaurants and six bars, while its leisure facilities cover watersports, diving, yoga, spa treatments and fitness activities. Surrounded by coral reefs, the resort also offers guests access to marine-based experiences in the Indian Ocean.
Sustainability remains a central part of the resort’s operations, with initiatives that include coral reef restoration and guest experiences linked to environmental awareness.
Through its recognition at the 2026 Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards, Reethi Faru Resort has added to its profile as a Maldives resort with a focus on both accommodation standards and sustainability.
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