In a historic first for the Maldives, direct Umrah charter flights have been launched from Gan International Airport in Addu City to Saudi Arabia, giving residents of the southern atolls a more convenient way to perform the pilgrimage.
The inaugural flight was operated by Maldivian using its Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft. The service was arranged through a partnership between the national airline and The Traveler, a travel agency specializing in Umrah packages.
Around 260 pilgrims, including children, departed on the first flight. Maldivian also presented the passengers with special gifts to mark the occasion.
The new service is expected to significantly reduce travel time and improve convenience for people living in Addu City and the southern atolls, who previously had to travel to Malé before flying onward to Saudi Arabia.
Maldivian described the launch as a landmark achievement, saying it marks the beginning of a broader effort to expand direct Umrah services from southern Maldives. The airline added that similar flights are expected to continue in the future.
The Maldivian government has been working to make Hajj and Umrah travel easier for citizens by introducing new services and improving travel arrangements. Officials say the Addu-Saudi route is another step toward that goal.
Maldivian first introduced dedicated Umrah flights from the Maldives in July last year, with the inaugural service carrying more than 750 pilgrims. The airline operates these flights using its Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft, which has also been deployed for transporting Maldivian Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
Demand for Umrah has grown steadily in recent years, with increasing numbers of Maldivians particularly young people and families undertaking the pilgrimage.
The launch of direct Umrah flights from Addu also complements Maldivian’s South Connectivity Network, an initiative aimed at strengthening air links across the southern region. The network currently provides scheduled services connecting Addu, Fuvahmulah, and the three inhabited regions of Huvadhu Atoll, improving domestic connectivity and making international departures from the south more accessible.
