Here’s how to get to and from the Maldives while avoiding a transfer in the Middle East
The Iran War and subsequent instability in the Middle East have disrupted flights to the Maldives. It has already caused almost 500 Maldives flight cancellations, and arrival numbers were down by 23% in March as a result. The main reason is that a lot of flights to and from the Maldives normally touch down in Middle Eastern transfer hubs.
However, if you’re planning on visiting the Maldives this year, there’s still hope. That’s because some airlines operate non-stop flights to the Maldives, bypassing the need to stop in or near the main conflict zones. While avoiding transiting in the Gulf doesn’t guarantee the airline won’t see any knock-on effects from the war, it can reduce the risk of disruption and offer you peace of mind.
I’ve checked and summarised the non-stop flights to the Maldives in this article, including a list of the departure cities and airlines. And I’ve also included another trick at the end of this article for how to find the cheapest non-stop flights to the Maldives.
There are at least eight non-stop flights from European cities to the Maldives. One airline flies direct from a city in Africa, and nine more airlines fly from Asia straight to the Maldives. But even if you don’t live near a city that has a direct flight link to the Maldives, it’s probably still possible to work out a route that bypasses the Gulf.
You could consider taking a short-haul regional flight first, then hopping onto a direct flight to the Maldives. For example, if you live in the Netherlands, you could fly to Frankfurt or London, then catch a direct flight to the Maldives.
If you’re nervous about the conflict, you may be reassured to know that existing flight routes have been rerouted to avoid a large chunk of Middle Eastern airspace.
Cities and airlines offering direct flights to the Maldives
Europe & Russia
Frankfurt (FRA): Condor and Discover Airlines
Istanbul (IST): Turkish Airlines
London (LHR): British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Beond
Milan (MXP): Neos and Beond
Moscow (SVO/VKO): Aeroflot, Beond and Azur Air
Paris (CDG): Air France and Beond
Rome (FCO): ITA Airways and Neos
Vienna (VIE): Austrian Airlines
Zurich (ZRH): Edelweiss Air, Beond
Africa
Addis Ababa (ADD): Ethiopian Airlines
Asia
Bangkok (BKK/DMK): Bangkok Airways and Thai AirAsia
Beijing (PKX and PEK): Beijing Capital Airlines and Maldivian
Chengdu (TFU): Sichuan Airlines and Maldivian
Colombo (CMB): SriLankan Airlines, Emirates, Fitsair, Flydubai, Gulf Air, and China Southern
Delhi (DEL): Air India
Kuala Lumpur (KUL): Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, and Batik Air
Mumbai (BOM): IndiGo
Shanghai (PVG): China Eastern Airlines
Singapore (SIN): Singapore Airlines
Trivandrum (TRV): IndiGo and Maldivian
Australasia
Melbourne (MEL): (ONLY FROM MAY 2026) Maldivian Luxury Escapes Express
With fuel prices still higher than average, I searched airfares on the website of one of our partners, Skyscanner. Using a handy trick, I found the cheapest direct flights to the Maldives. By selecting ‘non-stop’ and ‘flexible dates’ for the entire month, I could see all the prices for every day in April and then pick the lowest ones. Here are two examples:
Direct flights for two adults from London in the United Kingdom to the Maldives in April 2026 for only £1,139 per person in Economy Class.
To grab this deal, click on this safe link, then click on the white box. It will then open up a calendar displaying the lowest prices for each day during April. Simply click on the day with the best price, and bingo!
For May, the best deal I found today is £2,666 per person in Economy Class on various days throughout the month.
There have never been any direct flights between the United States and the Maldives. However, many travellers used to fly from locations such as New York City directly to Dubai before catching another flight to the Maldives. If you’d rather avoid the Gulf region because of safety concerns, or fears about the possibility of Middle Eastern airspace closing again, you could travel to a European city instead with direct flights to the Maldives, such as London (see the offer above), or Paris.
If you’re coming from Australia, the fastest way to get to the Maldives is to book a direct flight to an Asian transit hub such as Colombo, Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur. However, from May onwards, there will be a direct route from Melbourne, as we recently reported.
In the meantime, Sri Lankan authorities are said to be in talks with Emirates and Qatar about the possibility of using Mattala International Airport as an alternative transit hub to the Gulf. It’s located in southeastern Sri Lanka near the wildlife sanctuary of Yala National Park. Mattala Airport could be a temporary replacement because it has a prime position in the Indian Ocean East-West aviation corridors plus a 3,500 metre (11,482ft) runway capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft.
We recommend checking that you have a good travel insurance policy in case of any further travel disruptions or escalations. Standard travel insurance usually excludes war, civil unrest and ‘acts of foreign enemies’. A few specialised policies with Travel Disruption Extension or Travel Inconvenience insurance may offer limited coverage. However, make sure you check the small print.
This article contains the latest fact-checked information as well as a promotion for flight deals with our partner, Skyscanner.
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