TravTalk India Online Magazine
Manta Air re-ignites the appeal of Maldives with exclusive prices and bundled packages of accommodation with air tickets for Indian travel agents. The airline’s special travel deals, in convergence with multifarious offerings, aim to increase visitor traffic from India.
Amita Pandey
With the aim to attract 80 per cent of its traffic from India, Manta Air, in partnership with Visit Maldives, recently hosted ‘Explore Maldives’ roadshow at Shangri-La Bengaluru. The event aimed to rekindle Indian travellers’ enthusiasm for the archipelagic nation, as it has set the ambitious target of crossing the two million mark of visitors this year, said Zihuny Rasheed, Deputy Managing Director, Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC).
The event witnessed the participation of key resort partners from Maldives, such as Universal Resorts, Minor Hotels with NH Collection & AVANI+, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts, Colors of OBLU, and Sun Siyam Resorts, among others. The roadshow was graced by industry leaders of India, including the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) Karnataka Chapter and Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) – Karnataka Chapter, along with the attendance of DMCs, 130+ Indian travel agents and tour operators, as well as MICE travel organisers from India.
Bengaluru-Dhaalu route
Ahmed Maumoon, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Manta Air, said that the airline’s current objectives and marketing strategies are to promote the Bengaluru-Dhaalu route, which could catalyse the interest among Indian travellers to seek Maldives as a preferred holiday destination. “As a leading player in the Maldivian market for the last five years, we launched our first international route this year from Bengaluru to Dhaalu in Maldives, which is south of the country. This direct route saves Indian travellers four to six hours compared to Malé Airport. This route offers a more streamlined experience as Dhaalu Airport only has Manta Air landing, which means the airport has to oversee only 64 passengers per landing, contrary to the busy Malé Airport, which is a traditional hub,” he said.
Elaborating on the current passenger load, he explained, “The aircraft we are using is ATR 72-600, which has 64 seats. So, our focus is to bolster the present route and would like to market it further through events like this roadshow. In the last few weeks, we have witnessed about 45 per cent load factor, which we expect to grow to 80 per cent eventually. Recently, we have seen a diverse passenger load, including Indians on vacations, or Maldivians coming to Bengaluru for medical treatment or business needs.”
Maumoon shared that Manta Air partners with Indian travel agents and DMCs to offer exclusive packages for Indian travellers. “We provide tailored hotel packages in combination with airfare for Indian customers, including a two-to-three-night stay. This unique value proposition promotes the airline, accommodation, and destination together,” he revealed, adding that Manta Air collaborates with a wide range of hotels from the ultra-luxury segment to budget-friendly guest houses located on inhabited islands, where customers can experience the local culture during their stays, which allows customers to choose from a diverse range of hotels as per their budget.
The crowning touch was when Maumoon informed about the exclusive rates being offered to Indian travel agents. “We are extending return tickets priced at US $350-400 until the end of September. This saves travellers US $400-500 compared to traditional routes, which require separate tickets from Bengaluru to Malé and then domestic ticket from Malé to the final destination. Additionally, with the promotion of special packages for honeymooners, the airline is witnessing a surge in inquiries from couples looking for wedding celebrations, along with family segment. Moreover, the morning flights on Fridays and Sundays would benefit the visitors looking for weekend gateways to Maldives,” he said.
