Air India, India’s leading global airline, and Maldivian, the national carrier of the Maldives, have entered into a bilateral interline partnership designed to strengthen air connectivity between the two countries and expand access to destinations across the Maldivian archipelago.
Under the agreement, Air India guests will now be able to travel seamlessly to 16 islands through Maldivian’s domestic network, enabling convenient connections via Malé to destinations such as Hanimaadhoo, Kooddoo, Gan, Kaadedhdhoo, Kulhudhuffushi, Dharavandhoo, Maafaru and Kadhdoo. The partnership also benefits Maldivian passengers, who can access Air India’s extensive network through Delhi and Mumbai, with additional connectivity from Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram to Malé and Hanimaadhoo.
The interline arrangement allows travellers on both airlines to book a single itinerary combining flights from both carriers, offering smoother transfers and coordinated baggage handling for a more efficient travel experience.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said, “The Maldives continues to be one of the most preferred leisure destinations for Indian travellers, and this interline partnership with Maldivian opens the door to the country’s lesser-explored atolls and islands. By combining Air India’s extensive global network with Maldivian’s reach across domestic points beyond Malé, guests can now discover the true diversity of the archipelago on a single itinerary.”
Air India is the only carrier operating daily flights between Delhi and Malé, providing a direct capital-to-capital link. Air India deploys more than 55,000 seats to the Maldives annually (in one direction), contributing significantly to the country’s tourism and trade.
With an extensive worldwide network spanning five continents, Air India not only carries passengers from India to the Maldives, but also those from several points in Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East via Delhi.
Ibrahim Iyas, Managing Director, Maldivian said, “This partnership marks a new chapter in our efforts to expand accessibility to the Maldives and provide connectivity for passengers traveling beyond Malé to the atolls. With Air India’s strong network and our reach within the Maldives, this collaboration will play a key role in supporting tourism and business travel between our nations.”
The partnership aligns with both airlines’ goals to enhance regional cooperation and support tourism growth through stronger network integration, smoother connections, and improved customer experience.
