Russian carrier S7 Airlines has commenced scheduled flights between Novosibirsk and the Maldives, with its inaugural service arriving at Velana International Airport (VIA) on Friday, 30 October 2026. Maldives welcomed the airline’s first passengers with a special reception at the airport, marking the launch of the new connection between Siberia and the Maldives.
The service operates twice weekly, on Mondays and Fridays, using Airbus A320 aircraft. Flights from Novosibirsk depart at 04:25 and arrive at VIA at 13:00 local time.
The new route expands air connectivity between the Maldives and Russia beyond Moscow, providing travellers from Siberia and surrounding regions with an additional connection to the destination. It complements existing services, including Aeroflot’s flights from Moscow.
Russia remains one of the Maldives’ largest tourism source markets, ranking second after China. The destination welcomed 253,217 Russian visitors as of 28 October 2026, representing an increase of 14.5 per cent compared with the same period in 2025.
The route launch coincides with preparations for the winter travel season at VIA. MACL has introduced international check-in services at Terminal 2 for ten airlines, including S7 Airlines, as part of efforts to accommodate increased passenger traffic during the peak period.