After a brief halt, Swiss leisure airline Edelweiss is set to start flights again to the Maldives this September.
In a press release by Edelweiss, the airline announced restarting its Zurich-Male route on the 26th of September. This will be the airline's fourth long-haul destination after the coronavirus pandemic.
Currently, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, Mexico's Cancún and Seychelles in the Indian Ocean are the long-haul destinations served by Edelweiss.
"With the Maldives, Edelweiss is adding another vacation destination to its range for the coming autumn cavations. They are a must for all lovers of the colorful underwater worlds. The countless reefs are home to colorful fish, reef and whalesharks, tutles and manta rays," said the Edelweiss media brief.
According to the airline, Edelweiss will fly non-stop between Zurich and Male twice a week. Flights are now up for booking on the Edelweiss' website and other usual sales channels. The airline promises free and flexible rebooking options due to new/reintroduced entry restrictions that would be promptly communicated to customers.
Patrick Heymann, Chief Commercial Officer of Edelweiss said, "Over 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean with it crystal clear water offer divers and snorkelers a breathtaking backdrop. Almost nowhere is there so much privacy as on the many beautiful, small islands."
As more airlines add Maldives to their routes, this week the country was certified a safe travel destination by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) to recognise its efforts in implementing enhanced health and safety measures. The Safe Travels stamp by WTTC is endorsed by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and more than 200 travel companies around the world.
Currently, major international and regional airlines have recommenced flights to the Maldives. Some notable names include Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Aeroflot, Turkish Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Air India and the Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo.
The geographical seclusion of islands and the one-island one-resort concept of tourism is an added advantage to the Maldives as a destination, as properties themselves are isolated from local communities. To ensure safety during the current global pandemic, travellers are required to present a negative COVID-19 test not more than 72 hours prior to entering Maldives. They are also required to fill out this Health Declaration form before departure from their port of origin and before arrival in the Maldives.
