Mega Maldives Airlines ceo, George Weinmann, has announced plans to develop new routes from Malé, Maldives, to several destinations, including Johannesburg. Other planned destinations are Melbourne, Australia; Tokyo, Japan and a destination in Germany.
All the new routes will be fixed weekly non-stop, point-to-point services using the airline’s B767-300ER aircraft, except to Johannesburg, where it may use a 200-seat B757-200ER.
A statement from the airline said Johannesburg had been a strong source of traffic for the Maldives in past years. “The lack of convenient air services after the conclusion of charter flights many years ago has reduced demand. With new convenient direct services, we believe South Africa will once again be a strong market,” the statement read.
Mega Maldives Airlines will work closely with the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Company and Maldivian and overseas tour operators and agents to develop these markets to their full potential.
The airline currently flies to Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing as well as several other points in China and will shortly commence operations to Seoul and Tokyo.
It operates two B767-300ERs, with 12 business-class seats, 42 premium seats, and 196 economy seats. In addition the airline has recently leased a B757-200ER configured with 200 premium and standard international economy seats. The airline plans to add an additional B757 and two additional B767s in the coming year.
The airline provides on-board entertainment on selected flights, offering its own Android-based MEGA pads as well as international-style meal and beverage services. Other facilities include its honeymoon in the sky and Kiddie flight attendant programmes.
Vernon Nathan has been appointed commercial development manager for the airline, with specific responsibility for the Johannesburg and Melbourne routes. Vernon is based in Melbourne and has over 40 years of International airline experience in scheduled and non-scheduled operations in the Middle East and Africa, including South Africa.
