flydubai NW25 Maldives Service Increases: Frequencies Rise in 2025/26

(MALE, MALDIVES) flydubai will sharply boost flights to the Maldives during the Northern winter 2025/26 season, moving to a daily schedule that intensifies over the peak holidays as demand climbs for resort travel. Starting November 28, 2025, the Dubai-based carrier lifts its Dubai–Male schedule from 18 weekly flights to 21 weekly flights. During the festive rush, flydubai will step up again to 28 weekly flights from December 20, 2025, through January 11, 2026, making the Maldives a centerpiece of its NW25 leisure offering.

The airline says the enhanced plan will run eight daily flights between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Male (MLE) using Boeing 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft. That expanded rotation spreads departures through the day and night, giving travelers more connection options via Dubai to reach island resorts across the atolls. It also adds resilience during a period when weather, crew availability, and airport constraints can tighten schedules.

Expanded winter schedule and fleet deployment

flydubai’s published timings reflect a strong mix of overnight and daytime services. The carrier lists the following departures from Dubai:

• FZ1207 — departs DXB at 01:30, arrives MLE at 06:50
• FZ1025 — departs DXB at 02:00, arrives MLE at 07:15
• FZ1353 — departs DXB at 08:55, arrives MLE at 14:15
• FZ1569 — departs DXB at 10:10, arrives MLE at 15:25

Return flights include:

• FZ1208 — departs MLE at 10:15, arrives DXB at 13:40
• FZ1026 — departs MLE at 13:15, arrives DXB at 16:45
• FZ1354 — departs MLE at 15:15, arrives DXB at 18:45
• FZ1570 — departs MLE at 23:30, arrives DXB at 02:50+1

These timings support classic resort check-in and check-out patterns, with midday and afternoon returns to Dubai creating onward connection windows across flydubai’s network. For travelers booking bundled seaplane transfers from Male to out-island resorts, the morning arrivals into MLE are especially useful.

The schedule gains are enabled by fleet growth. As of August 2025, flydubai’s fleet stands at 93 aircraft, and the airline expects more Boeing 737 MAX 8 deliveries before year-end. That added lift lets the carrier scale high-demand routes like the Maldives while maintaining a network that now spans over 135 destinations across 57 countries. The aircraft mix on the route—MAX 8 and MAX 9—supports both frequency and seat count without shifting to widebody types, a model that keeps costs tight and fares competitive during NW25.

What the bump means for travelers and the market

This winter build-up underscores how central the Maldives remains in flydubai’s leisure map. The airline has served the islands since 2013, and the route continues to draw steady demand from the UAE, other GCC countries, the CIS region, and European markets that connect through Dubai.

Key market implications:

• Peak travel: Extra flights during late December and early January reflect family travel, honeymoon traffic, and winter sun trips that fill resort beds and pressure airline seat supply.
• Price and choice: According to VisaVerge.com analysis, schedule increases during holiday peaks can ease pressure on prices while widening choices for travelers who must align flights with resort transfer windows.
• Hub connectivity: Dubai’s role as a hub lets flydubai time-bank connections from early Europe arrivals and later GCC departures, funneling passengers into Male with fewer layovers.

Important: During peak periods, plan ahead for entry and airport formalities. Review official entry rules, transit notes, and passport validity on the Maldives government portal at Maldives Immigration.

Practical travel planning advice

Travelers should consider the following when booking:

• Book early: Seats and resort availability during December 20–January 11 sell out quickly.
• Match transfers: Align arrival times in MLE with resort seaplane or speedboat schedules.
• Allow buffers: Build extra time for weather-related transfer delays and airport formalities.
• Check baggage rules: Resorts and seaplane operators often have stricter baggage limits—confirm allowances before travel.
• Verify official rules: Use Maldives Immigration for the latest entry policy updates.

Benefits for resorts, tour operators and network planners

For resort managers and tour operators, the added seats provide relief to allocation crunches, especially for guests hopping between islands during New Year week. With eight daily flights, hotels can plan transfers around more arrival banks, reducing costly or weather-sensitive late-night transfers.

Operational and network planning notes:

• The short- to mid-haul nature of Dubai–Male enables multiple daily turns of a single aircraft with efficient crew pairing.
• The increase from 21 to 28 weekly flights during December 20–January 11 is a tactical step-up that allows a quick scale-back to the elevated baseline after the peak.
• Adding more 737 MAX 8 aircraft by year-end helps flydubai maintain frequency without cannibalizing capacity from other core markets.

Timing and connection strategy

The airline’s mix of overnight and morning departures supports different traveler needs:

• Early DXB departures (FZ1207, FZ1025) suit passengers who arrive in Dubai late evening and want a short onward connection.
• Mid-morning options (FZ1353, FZ1569) are convenient for travelers starting in Dubai or within the GCC on early feeder flights.
• Evening and late-night MLE departures (including FZ1570) let families maximize time on-island and still make workable connections through DXB in the early hours.

Final takeaways

In NW25, the Maldives remains one of flydubai’s most established, year-round destinations. With 21 weekly flights from late November and 28 weekly flights over the holiday peak, the carrier is betting that increased frequencies, steady aircraft deliveries, and Dubai’s hub power will keep the islands within easy reach for travelers across the UAE, GCC, CIS, and Europe connecting through Dubai.

Tip: Always confirm flight times with the airline close to travel dates, as demand-driven adjustments can occur during the peak period.