Around 1,400 tourists affected by flight cancellations, says minister
He said assistance was being provided to passengers who had arrived at the airport before being informed of the cancellations.
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Around 1,400 tourists have been unable to depart the Maldives after flight cancellations linked to airspace closures in the Middle East, Tourism Minister Thoriq Ibrahim said on Saturday evening.
The disruptions follow attacks involving the United States, Israel and Iran, after which Iran launched retaliatory strikes on United States military bases in the region. As a result, airspace in several Middle Eastern countries has been closed and multiple flights have been cancelled.
A number of flights from the Maldives were cancelled on Saturday, leaving many travellers at the airport.
In an interview with state media, Minister Thoriq said more than 1,400 tourists had not been able to leave as scheduled. He said assistance was being provided to passengers who had arrived at the airport before being informed of the cancellations.
The minister said affected tourists are being transported back to their resorts or guesthouses.
“Some tourists wanted to change their tickets and try to travel on another flight,” he said. “Some tourists chose to remain at the airport to wait for further updates.”
Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has advised passengers travelling to Middle Eastern destinations to monitor updates from airlines and tour operators before travelling to Velana International Airport.
The Ministry of Tourism said in a statement issued on Saturday night that it is working with relevant agencies to provide assistance to affected tourists.
