The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice for the Maldives, warning that widespread disruption linked to the escalating situation in the Middle East could affect flights and connections to the Indian Ocean destination.
The warning covers airspace closures, delayed flights and cancellations, and applies even though the Maldives itself is outside the Middle East. Travellers could be affected if their journey involves a connection through the region.
What travellers should do
The FCDO is advising anyone planning to travel to check the latest travel advice for every country or territory they will transit through before setting off. Holidaymakers are also urged to check directly with their airline or tour operator for the latest information about their flight.
Travellers are advised to review their travel insurance policy to make sure they understand what is covered in the event of delays, cancellations or other disruption. They are also being told to monitor local and international media for developments and to sign up for FCDO travel advice email alerts.
Impact on international flights
The advice comes as disruption linked to the situation in the Middle East continues to affect international flights, meaning passengers travelling to destinations elsewhere in the world can also face delays or changes to their itineraries.
The FCDO's latest Maldives travel advice can be checked before departure, particularly for anyone whose journey involves a Middle Eastern hub.
Contact information
Travellers who need information while in the Maldives can contact the country's Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation. The ministry lists its tourism hotline numbers as +9609423131.
The warning does not mean that holidays to the Maldives are automatically cancelled. Instead, travellers are urged to stay up to date and check their individual itinerary, particularly where flights connect through countries affected by the wider disruption.
