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Virgin Atlantic inaugurates direct flights from London Heathrow to the Maldives

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Today, Virgin Atlantic launched its latest direct flight route, linking London Heathrow to the Maldives. The inaugural flight, operated by Virgin Atlantic, touched down at VIA early this morning at 07:40 am local time, signifying the commencement of an exciting new era in air travel between the United Kingdom and the Maldives. Passengers aboard the Virgin Atlantic aircraft were greeted with a warm traditional Maldivian Bodeberu welcome ceremony, featuring captivating cultural dance performances.

This new service is set to operate three times a week, with Virgin Atlantic’s state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which boasts a total of 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium, and 192 Economy Delight, Classic, and Light seats. Travelers will have a range of options to suit their preferences and budgets.

For those seeking the utmost in luxury, Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class offers fully flat beds and an onboard bar, providing a fine dining experience and an opportunity to network with fellow travelers. Premium customers can relax in their luxurious leather armchairs, complete with a 38” seat pitch, and enjoy the perks of priority boarding and welcome drinks. Regardless of the cabin class chosen, all passengers will enjoy complimentary food and beverages, over 300 hours of entertainment, and a warm welcome from Virgin Atlantic’s renowned cabin crew.

Mr. Mahjoob Shujau, CEO & Managing Director of MACL, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “As the operator of Velana International Airport, we are excited to welcome the prestigious and customer-centric airline, Virgin Atlantic. This inaugural flight marks a significant milestone in the enhancement of air travel connections between the United Kingdom and the Maldives. We look forward to a prosperous partnership with Virgin Atlantic as we continue to elevate the travel experience for our passengers.”

Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic, shared his excitement, saying, “We couldn’t be more thrilled to launch our flights between the United Kingdom and the Maldives with our new thrice-weekly service, as we continue to expand our growing collection of winter sun destinations. We are proud to be able to offer more opportunities for our customers to experience the Maldives and are looking forward to welcoming them to this breathtaking and one-of-a-kind destination. The collaboration between MACL and Virgin Atlantic reflects the shared commitment to delivering exceptional travel experiences and fostering stronger air connectivity between the United Kingdom and the Maldives.”

Caron Rohsler, British High Commissioner to the Maldives, also expressed her delight, stating, “I am delighted that Virgin Atlantic has today started operating direct flights from London Heathrow to Maldives. Maldives is a top holiday destination for British tourists. Brits have consistently featured among top 3 nationalities visiting Maldives for many years. The UK Government has worked with the Government of Maldives for many years now on airport safety and aviation security. I look forward to continuing our partnerships in Maldives, especially as the airport expansion progresses. Tourism is an important pillar of the Maldivian economy, and I hope this milestone today will contribute to continued growth in convenient and comfortable travel between our countries. Visitors are encouraged to read the FCDO’s travel advice and to buy travel insurance to enjoy the best possible holiday experience.”

The Virgin Atlantic Inaugural event was attended by the British High Commissioner to the Maldives and senior members of MACL, along with senior members of the local agent, Voyages Maldives. This new route promises to strengthen the connection between the United Kingdom and the Maldives, offering travelers a remarkable journey to one of the world’s most picturesque destinations.

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Sun Siyam Iru Fushi earns nomination in Condé Nast Traveller 2026 awards

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Sun Siyam Iru Fushi has been nominated for the Condé Nast Traveller 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, one of the travel industry’s most respected accolades.

The nomination comes on the back of a comprehensive evolution of the resort, from newly transformed overwater villas, enhanced dining experiences and a more personalised guest journey at every touchpoint. Guests can enjoy a 24-Hour Premium All Inclusive Dine Around concept designed to offer both variety and ease, delivered with signature Maldivian hospitality.

“We have been very intentional in redefining the feel of contemporary Maldivian luxury for today’s travellers. Our overwater villas, inspired by elegance and a natural ethos, truly reflect our direction as an effortless take on island living,”  says Pasan Wijewardana, Cluster Director of Sales & Marketing.

“Across the resort, we have also put a strong focus on the overall experience, from our restaurants introducing a more lifestyle driven culinary approach, with menus curated by Michelin starred chefs and a curated selection of wines, to a spa that blends Maldivian traditions, Ayurveda and more creative wellness journeys for all ages. What matters most to us is that this feels accessible and genuine. Families can enjoy real value through our children stay and eat free offering, while guests looking for something more personalised benefit from our multilingual butler service. It is about creating a stay that feels thoughtful, high quality and seamless at the same time, which is why being recognised in this way means a lot to us.” 

To cast your vote for Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, please visit the Condé Nast Traveller voting site. Voting remains open until 30 June 2026.

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Night snorkelling reveals hidden underwater world at Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon

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There’s something quietly thrilling about stepping into the ocean after sunset. At Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon, when daylight fade and the reef slips into darkness, a completely different world begins to stir. What feels familiar by day transforms into something far more mysterious and far more alive.

Night snorkelling at Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon begins at around 6:30pm, when guests gather with the experienced team from Dive & Sail Maldives. Equipped with underwater torches, snorkellers ease into the slighly cooler waters surrounding the island, where every beam of light reveals a new discovery hidden within the reef.

What makes night snorkelling so fascinating is the dramatic shift in marine behaviour after sunset. Species that remain tucked away during the day begin to emerge from coral crevices and sandy seabeds. Moray eels weave through the reef in search of prey, octopuses glide silently across the ocean floor, and crustaceans slowly crawl out from their hiding places.

One guest described one of the most unforgettable moments of the experience as watching a group of reef sharks glide past in near-perfect formation. According to the guest, the sudden appearance of six to eight sharks emerging from the darkness was initially startling, but the feeling quickly shifted to awe as they moved calmly and effortlessly through the water, illuminated only by torchlight. The encounter, they shared, felt both thrilling and surreal in the stillness of the night reef.

Beyond the larger marine life, the reef reveals countless smaller details at night that are often missed during daytime snorkelling. Brightly coloured reef crabs, lobster-like crustaceans believed to be spiny lobsters, sleeping parrotfish hidden within the coral, and lionfish hovering near the reef edge all become part of the experience.

The corals themselves also appear remarkably different after dark. Under torchlight, sections of the reef glow with deeper shades of orange, gold, and crimson, while certain soft corals and coral polyps extend outward to feed in the currents.

The house reef at Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon is widely regarded as one of the Maldives’ most vibrant reefs, celebrated for its rich biodiversity and easy accessibility from the shoreline. Guests planning their next island escape can also take advantage of the resort’s ongoing summer offer, which includes complimentary roundtrip speedboat transfers for stays of seven nights or more along with added benefits through Cinnamon DISCOVERY, the loyalty programme by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts.

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Mandara Spa and Chavana Spa unveil family-focused wellness concept

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Mandara Spa and Chavana Spa has introduced Little Wellness Rituals, a dedicated spa programme thoughtfully created for young guests aged 4 to 17 years. Now available at selected hotel and resort partners across the Maldives, the programme offers gentle, age appropriate wellness experiences designed to encourage relaxation, mindfulness, and meaningful family connection from an early age.

Developed with care and guided by the brands’ signature Asian wellness philosophies, Little Wellness Rituals creates a welcoming spa environment where children and teenagers can experience wellness rituals tailored specifically to them, always accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Wellness Designed for Every Age

Rooted in the belief that wellbeing can be nurtured from an early age, the programme introduces younger guests to spa and wellness experiences within a safe, calming, and welcoming environment. Thoughtfully created for children and teenagers, Little Wellness Rituals embraces gentle relaxation, playful sensory experiences, and meaningful family connection inspired by island living.

From soothing wellness rituals to shared parent and child experiences, the collection encourages moments of comfort, care, and togetherness while introducing young travellers to the world of wellness in a warm and approachable way.

Signature Experiences

The Little Wellness Rituals collection features a range of thoughtfully curated experiences inspired by relaxation, connection, and playful island wellness. Signature highlights include:

  • Mother and Daughter Moment: A gentle wellness experience designed to encourage meaningful bonding and shared relaxation.
  • Father and Son Timeout: A calming ritual created to inspire quality time and moments of reconnection.
  • Little Star Journey: A soothing head to toe spa experience combining relaxation and tropical inspired care.
  • Island Fruity Glow: A sensory wellness ritual inspired by fun, freshness, and island indulgence.
  • Tropical Toes: A comforting foot care experience designed to refresh and restore little travellers.
  • Heavenly Hands: A nurturing hand ritual focused on gentle care and relaxation.

Selected experiences and treatment elements may differ across participating resort locations.

Little Wellness Rituals is currently available at selected Mandara Spa and Chavana Spa locations within participating hotel and resort partners across the Maldives, including:

  • Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives
  • Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi
  • Adaaran Select Meedhupparu
  • Adaaran Club Rannalhi
  • Barceló Nasandhura Malé
  • NOOE Maldives Kunaavashi
  • Melia Whale Lagoon Maldives

The programme reflects the continued commitment of Mandara Spa and Chavana Spa to creating inclusive wellness experiences that cater to today’s evolving family travel landscape.

Supporting Meaningful Family Wellness Experiences

The introduction of Little Wellness Rituals reflects the continued commitment of Mandara Spa and Chavana Spa to developing thoughtful wellness concepts that evolve alongside the changing expectations of today’s luxury traveller. As family-focused travel experiences continue to grow within the hospitality landscape, wellness has become an increasingly meaningful part of how resorts engage guests across all generations.

With decades of experience operating spa and wellness facilities across internationally recognised resort destinations, Mandara Spa and Chavana Spa continue to collaborate closely with hotel and resort partners to create wellness experiences that align with each property’s identity, guest profile, and service philosophy.

Hospitality partners and media representatives interested in learning more about the programme or the brands’ wellness approach are warmly invited to connect with the team for further information.

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