Tag Archives: Maldives

Mega Maldives Airlines to expand its fleet and destinations

MEGA Global Air Services (Maldives) Pvt. Ltd. (dba Mega Maldives Airlines) (Male) and it’s offshore partner, MG Holdings Limited, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with BB Airways Pvt. Ltd. of Nepal, whereby the companies agreed to collaborate on developing flights and sharing of resources for cost effective operation of both airlines. The two airlines plan to develop operations both within the SAARC region and beyond.

The cooperation between BB Airways and Mega Maldives Airlines will help both parties expand and open new markets.

According to CAPA, Mega Maldives plans to add four additional Boeing 757-200s and one additional Boeing 767-300 and add its first routes to the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The second phase of expansion will see the possible launch of services to Australia and Europe using a second type of widebody aircraft.

Mega Maldives currently operates regular flights throughout the year from Male to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. These operations include 6 to 18 round trips per month from these cities depending on the time of the year (see map below).

Mega Maldives also operates seasonal routes from Male to Gan, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou and Seoul (Incheon). Due to the seasonality of demands on these routes, Mega Maldives does not normally operate flights to these destinations in mid-December to early January and between March and May.

According to the privately owned airline, “Mega Maldives Airlines is the privately owned international airline of the Maldives and serves the Chinese market with the greatest number of frequencies of any nonstop carrier. The airline operates Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft in a multi-class configuration. Mega, founded in 2010, carries up to 30% of the Chinese market to Maldives and up to 14% of all traffic to the Maldives. The airline plans to take delivery of several additional aircraft and expand to several new points over the coming year.”

Copyright Photo: Paul Denton/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 767-3P6 ER 8Q-MEG (msn 24496) of Mega Maldives Airlines prepares to depart from its Male base.

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Current Route Map:

Was missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH 370 sighted in the Maldives?

Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur) missing flight MH 370 with Boeing 777-2H6 ER 9M-MRO (msn 28420) with 239 souls on board may have been sighted on the remote island island of Kuda Huvadhoo in the Maldives (south-southwest of Male). Islanders spotted a Jumbo Jet with a red stripe flying low over their island at 6:15 am local time on March 8. The distance from the last reported position of MH 370 to Kuda Huvadhoo is around 2,000 miles.

Read the full account from the International Business Times: CLICK HERE

Read another report from Sydney Morning Herald: CLICK HERE

Map Google Maps.

Meanwhile Malaysia Airlines has issued this 21st media statement:

The passengers and crew on-board flight MH 370, their families and loved ones, have been at the center of every action Malaysia Airlines has taken as a Company since we first learned the flight disappeared.

The Malaysian Government is coordinating an unprecedented international search effort covering 2.24 million square nautical miles. With this simply enormous area we cannot determine how long it will take to locate the aircraft.

Considering these challenges, our caregivers have informed the family members of the missing passengers and crew that we have taken the decision to continue to provide information and assistance through the further enhanced Family Support Centre (FSC) based in Kuala Lumpur which has been operational since March 8, 2014 rather than the various Family Assistance Centers (FACs).

The Family Support Centre will continue to proactively provide relatives waiting for news at home with daily updates. In addition to personal phone calls, Malaysia Airlines will now send out SMS blasts with brief updates to the families. We have also set up an email address for family members as a channel for them to communicate with us. Updates via the Malaysia Airlines website are also available.

This Family Support Centre will be open round-the-clock and will house family support representatives trained to assist those who are seeking answers and further information. The representatives will be divided into four shifts with ten staff handling each shift. This will ensure that someone is available to attend to the families at all times. The centre will also have Mandarin speaking personnel.

Below are the toll-free numbers that has been set-up for eight different countries. A back-up number is also given to the families in the event they are not able to reach the toll-free number. The number to call to get in touch with this centre is +603 8777 5770.

Countries Toll-free number

China 10-800-130-1364 (South China) / 10-800-713-1404 (North China)
Malaysia   1800-81-4819
Indonesia   001-803-015-203-7708
Australia 1800-198-163
US/Canada 877-504-4210
New Zealand 080-045-4029
India 000-800-100-3449
France   080-091-2622

All this while, the families have always been briefed first, followed by the media and then the public whenever new information surfaces. However, the often conflicting information and wild speculation have caused a major distress to the families.

The Airline continues to work closely with the authorities and we appreciate the help we are receiving from all local and international agencies during this critical and traumatic period.

Our top priority remains to provide any and all assistance to the families of the passengers and crew.

Bloomberg Businessweek explores the question of whether Malaysia (the government and the airline) can restore its public image.

Read the article: CLICK HERE

Malaysia Airlines (aircraft slide show):