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Manta Air elevates to new heights with international flights to India starting from 2024

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Manta Air, the Maldives’ leading airline, has announced that it is starting direct flights from India to the tropical paradise of Maldives.

The announcement took place at a prestigious event hosted at the chic Bang at The Ritz-Carlton hotel in Bangalore.

In a move aimed at redefining air travel between India and the Maldives, the airline will operate direct flights from Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport to the Maldives’ Dhaalu Airport, allowing visitors to avoid the hassles and additional expense of transiting through the main Velaana International Airport at Male, and gaining direct access to many luxury resorts located in Dhaalu atoll.

Manta Air is the Maldives’ leading seaplane and domestic airlines operator and prides itself on providing its passengers with a seamless travel experience and exceptional customer service. By flying directly to Dhaalu airport, customers going to resorts located in that atoll are able to save on the usual transit time and additional transfer costs incurred when entering Maldives through the traditional Male’ airport route. Dhaalu atoll is host to some the country’s best resorts, including Kandima Maldives, Niyama Private Islands, St. Regis Maldives, RIU, Baglioni, Angsana Velavaru, and Sun Siyam Iru Veli.

Flight schedules have been designed to allow guests to maximise their stay duration in the Maldives, with all flights arriving in the Maldives in the mornings and departing late in the evenings for India.

The flights are schedules to commence in January 2024.

Mohamed Khaleel, CEO of Manta Air comments, “This announcement marks a pivotal moment in our company’s trajectory – we are progressing from being the leading domestic and seaplane carrier in the Maldives to an international airline operator. With Manta Air’s expansion through a new direct flight route from India to the Maldives we anticipate a surge in travel interest and bookings from Indian tourists. This strategic move aims to enhance the guest experience and boost bookings for resorts in Dhaalu atoll, particularly. Kandima, RIU Hotel, and Niyama Private Island, which are all located in close proximity to the airport. By facilitating easier and more affordable travel access to the Maldives, we foresee a substantial increase in travel demand from Bengaluru and across India in 2024 and beyond.”

This strategic initiative signifies a major milestone for the homegrown Maldives’ airline and recognises India as a pivotal source market for the Maldives. Manta Air, in collaboration with premium partner resorts, will curate combined exclusive packages for the respective properties that are conveniently connected to the Dhaalu Airport. These thoughtfully designed offers ensure end-to-end convenience for international travelers from India, resulting in significant savings on flight time and costs. With this initiative Manta Air aims to enhance the in-flight experience, streamline international travel processes, and eliminate the need for intermediary travel requirements or connecting domestic flights within the Maldives.

Family

W Maldives launches Easter celebration with kayak races and beach feast

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W Maldives unveils Tropical Easter, a one-day island takeover on Sunday, 5 April 2026, that transforms the resort into a vivid playground of colour, creativity, and effortless luxury. Set within the luminous blues of the North Ari Atoll, the celebration reframes the traditional holiday through a distinctly Maldivian perspective, where powder soft beaches replace spring meadows and the rhythm of the day moves from sunlit play to starlit revelry. Crafted or a global audience of discerning travellers, the experience balances polished indulgence with the brand’s signature playful edge, inviting couples, families, and friends to celebrate Easter in a a way that feels both elevated and carefree.

The festivities begin with The Great Little Easter Quest at WET Deck, where younger guests embark on a spirited hunt for hidden treasures before channeling their imagination into an open-air painting session. Designed as a joyful expression of creativity rather than a conventional children’s activity, the experience unfolds within the resort’s social heart, surrounded by vibrant energy, turquoise views, and a sense of occasion that resonates across generations.

As the afternoon unfolds, Race The Blue shifts the tempo with a high-energy kayak challenge across the resort’s crystalline lagoon. Participants paddle through waters so clear they reveal the intricate coral gardens of the celebrated house reef below, transforming the race into a breathtaking encounter with the Maldives’ underwater wonder. The event captures the essence of Tropical Easter’s story, playful adventure grounded in the extraordinary natural beauty, offering guests a rare opportunity to engage with the lagoon as both playground and vista.

At sunset, the celebration culminates at FIRE Beach with The Easter Table, a sophisticated alfresco buffet that elevates the holiday meal into a stylish social ritual. Classic Easter flavours are reinterpreted with contemporary flair across interactive live stations and vibrant culinary displays, while music drifts through the warm evening air and the ocean glows just beyond the shoreline. The setting is at once intimate and electric barefoot yet refined, inviting guests to linger long after the final course as the sky deepens into night.

Beyond the day’s curated experiences, Tropical Easter also highlights the resort’s signature lifestyle allure, from overwater villas poised above luminous lagoons to world class snorkelling accessible directly from the beach. Whether seeking adrenaline, indulgence, or pure escapism, guests can chape the celebration entirely to their own rhythm, embodying the freedom and spontaneity that define the W experience in the Maldives.

Travellers inspired to extend the festivities can unlock the exclusive Stay 5, Pay 4, member offer by enrolling in Marriott Bonvoy, transforming a single extraordinary day into a longer island escape. The package offers a compelling reason to plan ahead and immerse fully in the season’s distinctive tropical celebration.

This April, Tropical Easter at W Maldives promises more than a holiday, it delivers a mood, a sun-drenched fusion of playfulness, style and sensory indulgence set in one of the world’s most captivating destinations. For those seeking an Easter that feels fresh, glamorous, and unforgettable, the answer lies where tradition dissolves into turquoise and every moment unfolds with a touch of irreverent luxury.

For more information, visit www.wmaldives.com or connect with the resort’s team at reservations.wmaldives@whotels.com.

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Culture

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi marks Eid with cultural celebrations and community spirit

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At Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Eid Al-Fitr is an expression of Ekuverikan —a traditional Maldivian spirit of fellowship where the boundaries between host and visitor dissolve into moments of sharing. The celebrations began on 20 March with a special morning high tea, bringing together our local and international team members to share in the joy of the occasion. By breaking bread following morning prayers, the entire team transformed a religious milestone into a shared human experience where global diversity is encouraged.

While Eid Al-Fitr lunch began with a symbolic cake cutting, the island transformed into a stage for Koadi Jehun at sunset. This traditional procession features locals marching with a koadi, a decorated stake crafted from coconut palm leaves woven into the shapes of birds and fish which is then offered to the children.

During the performance, dancers in traditional attire move in synchrony with Indian pots, a nod to the ancient trade routes that shaped the archipelago. As night fell, the air pulsed with the rhythmic beat of Boduberu. These songs, with roots reaching back to East Africa, serve as a living archive of the Maldivian ancestral journey across the Indian Ocean. The Eid Al- Fitr celebration continued with a DJ party in the newly built leisure hub dedicated to the team. The festivities concluded on Saturday with beach activities, reinforcing the belief that travel is most meaningful when it connects us to both nature and community.

“Eid Al-Fitr is a day to express gratitude through shared kindness,” says Ahmed Waheed, Human Resources Manager at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi. “By bringing guests and team members together, we offer an authentic connection to the Maldivian heritage we hold dear. Ultimately, travel is about these quiet, human moments that leave you feeling as though something new has stirred within.”

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Family

Madifushi Private Island opens Kokko Learning Studio for young guests

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Madifushi Private Island has announced the opening of Kokko Learning Studio, an innovative kids’ club concept designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and confidence in young guests. Guided by the philosophy “Crafting Curiosity Every Day,” Kokko Learning Studio introduces a fresh approach to children’s programming in the Maldives, blending education, creativity, and island discovery into meaningful experiences.

Redefining the Resort Kids Club Experience

Moving beyond the traditional resort kids’ club model, Kokko Learning Studio has been thoughtfully designed as an immersive learning environment where children can explore, experiment, and create. Rather than focusing solely on entertainment, the studio encourages young guests to build, imagine, and discover through hands-on activities inspired by the island environment.

The purpose-built space fosters curiosity and confidence through guided experiences that allow children to learn naturally while enjoying their holiday.

A Space Designed to Inspire

Kokko Learning Studio offers a creative environment where children can:

  • Imagine through storytelling, art, and open-ended creative play
  • Discover through hands-on science experiments, nature projects, and sensory exploration
  • Grow by building confidence, independence, and teamwork through guided activities
  • Express themselves through design challenges, collaborative play, and creative thinking

Each activity is intentionally designed to develop practical skills while nurturing curiosity and creativity.

Experiences Inspired by Island Life

The programs at Kokko Learning Studio connect children to the natural environment and culture of the Maldives through a diverse range of engaging activities. These include hands-on science explorations, creative arts workshops, seaweed education programs, mariculture experiences focused on ocean farming and marine ecosystem preservation, and agriculture activities that introduce sustainable island living. Children also take part in nature discovery sessions, storytelling circles, and design challenges that inspire imagination and problem-solving, while guided activities encourage collaboration, resilience, and critical thinking.

A Family-Centric Island Experience

Kokko Learning Studio complements Madifushi Private Island’s family-friendly luxury offering by providing meaningful and engaging experiences for younger guests while parents enjoy the island’s facilities.

Children participate in supervised, age-appropriate programs designed to inspire curiosity and learning, creating memorable experiences that enrich the family holiday.

“Our vision with Kokko Learning Studio was to create something truly different from the typical resort kids’ club,” said Mohamed Hilmy, General Manager of Madifushi Private Island. “We wanted a space where children could explore, ask questions, experiment, and discover the beauty of the Maldives in a meaningful way. Kokko Learning Studio reflects our commitment to creating enriching experiences for families—where every guest, no matter their age, leaves with unforgettable memories.”

With the opening of Kokko Learning Studio, Madifushi Private Island continues to elevate the family travel experience in the Maldives, offering a destination where relaxation, discovery, and learning come together.

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