New route bypasses Middle Eastern conflict zone – and opens up opportunities for dual-destination adventure
From 7 November, Bulgarian airline GullivAir will begin operating direct flights between Europe and the Maldives. The move will appeal to many travellers not just in Bulgaria but across the continent for three reasons.
The flights are non-stop, so they bypass the war zone in Iran. Since the conflict spilled over to neighbouring Middle Eastern territories on various occasions, it has spooked many passengers who previously would have transited in Dubai, Doha, or Abu Dhabi. For example, Dubai International airport arrival figures are down by a third compared with 2025. (Note – earlier this year we compiled a list of every airline offering direct flights to the Maldives, circumventing the Middle East).
GullivAir is low-cost in comparison to many of the larger competitors. The Bulgarian airline is a niche long-haul leisure carrier, known for its no-frills Economy fares. There are three categories of Economy tickets to choose from. But the airline also offers affordable Business Class fares, too. When we checked today, there were Economy Light tickets available in late November from Bulgaria to the Maldives from only €452 (£388/$513 USD) and inbound from €522 (£448/$593 USD). Business Class seats were around €2,068 (£1,779/$2,351 USD) each way.
Thirdly, the flights originate from GullivAir’s hub in Sofia, Bulgaria, which gives travellers an option to make their holiday and multi-destination trip. During the winter, Bulgaria offers snow-covered mountains, ski resorts, spas, historic cities, and a festive Christmas atmosphere. Among Bulgaria’s best-known ski resorts are Bansko (also a major digital nomad hub), Borovets, and Pamporovo.
So you could enjoy skiing, snowboarding, atmospheric mountain hotels, cosy restaurants, and winter scenery in Bulgaria’s Pirin Mountains before heading to the sultry heat of the Maldives. This makes for an exciting contrast.
The new service will run exclusively throughout winter 2026 until March 2027; resuming in November 2027 until March 26, 2027. An Airbus A330-200 wide-body aircraft will carry all GullivAir passengers.
Passengers on the long-haul service will receive two hot meals as well as beverages during the flight, regardless of the class they booked (even in Economy Light). Additional services and the baggage allowance depend upon the fare selected at the time of booking.
Flights will depart from Sofia every Saturday at 7.45 pm, arriving at Velana International Airport in the Maldives at 7.15am local time. They will depart from the Maldives every Friday at 4.30 pm, arriving back in Sofia at 11.30 pm.
The GullivAir website currently uses the old name of the international airport in the Maldives, ‘Male’ International Airport’. It was renamed Velana International Airport in 2017, but the current airport code ‘MLE’ still matches its old name.
For more information and tickets, visit GullivAir.com.
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