Domestic airfares cannot be reduced as passenger numbers remain insufficient: Ameen
Minister Mohamed Ameen highlighted that the lack of sufficient passenger volume for domestic flights and low demand at certain airports remain significant challenges to reducing ticket prices. He noted that despite rising global fuel prices increasing operational costs, domestic airfares for Maldivians have been maintained through alternative cost-management strategies. Furthermore, the Minister emphasized that high aircraft maintenance costs continue to hinder the overall operational efficiency of the sector.
Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen. | Presidents Office
Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen has stated that there are significant challenges to reducing domestic airfares, noting that current ticket prices already exceed operational costs.
Responding to questions from members during Tuesday's parliamentary sitting, Ameen stated that the Maldives currently lacks a sufficient volume of passengers to sustain a viable operation.
Minister Ameen further noted that some domestic airports in the Maldives experience significantly low demand.
Ameen stated that the aircraft operated in the Maldives are of the highest quality, noting that the maintenance of such a fleet is an exceptionally costly undertaking.
The Minister further noted that this remains a highly challenging endeavor. He highlighted that global airline fares have surged by 30 to 40 percent due to rising fuel costs driven by the conflict in the Middle East. Despite these pressures, he emphasized that the government has managed to stabilize ticket prices for Maldivians until now by streamlining other expenditures.
Despite the Minister's remarks, Maldivian increased domestic flight fares for tourists last April.
The Minister reiterated that the Maldives lacks a sufficient volume of passengers to maintain domestic aviation operations at an efficient level.
"The reality is that reducing ticket prices will be a highly challenging task for any party," Minister Ameen stated.
