French low-cost long-haul airline French Bee has announced the launch of direct flights between Paris-Orly and the Maldives, further strengthening air connectivity between France and the island destination.
The new service is scheduled to commence on 19 December 2026, with tickets for the route now on sale. The airline will operate the service as part of a Paris-Orly–Malé–Colombo–Paris-Orly routing, providing travellers with direct access to the Maldives from the French capital. Passengers will also have the option of combining the Maldives and Sri Lanka within a single itinerary.
French bee Chief Executive Officer Marc-Antoine Blondeau said the Maldives remains one of the most sought-after leisure destinations in the world and continues to experience strong demand from French travellers. He noted that the introduction of the route aligns with the airline’s strategy to expand its long-haul network while making international travel more accessible.
The launch marks the entry of another European airline into the Maldivian market, providing additional capacity and connectivity from one of the Maldives’ key European source markets.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Tourism, France is currently the seventh-largest source market for tourist arrivals to the Maldives. More than 29,000 visitors from France have travelled to the Maldives so far this year.
The new route is expected to support continued growth in arrivals from France while contributing to ongoing efforts to diversify source markets and expand international air links. Europe remains one of the Maldives’ most important tourism regions, with authorities continuing to prioritise improved connectivity across the continent.