| Airline: | MEGA Maldives Airlines |
| Iata: | LV |
| Icao: | MEG |
| Callsign: | SANDBAR |
| Fleet Size: | 6 |
| Destinations: | 30 |
| Parent: | Mega Global Air Services (Maldives) Private Limited |
| Ceased: | 2 May 2017 |
| Headquarters: | Malé, Maldives |
| Num Employees: | 400 (2016) |
| Website: | megamaldivesair.com |
MEGA Maldives Airlines was a Maldivian airline based at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport. It suspended all operations on 2 May 2017.
Mega Maldives was awarded an AOC on 22 December 2010,[1] and its first domestic flight was from Malé to Gan on 28 December 2010. The airline began its international operations on 21 January 2011 between Hong Kong and Gan. The airline initially operated flights between Hong Kong and Gan once every 5 days.[2] Later, the route was changed to Hong Kong and Malé, but continued the unique every 5 day pattern. The airline also began scheduled service from Malé to Shanghai on 16 July and to Beijing 22 July 2011.[3]
Frequencies increased since 2011 and the airline operated 4 to 5 flights a week to each of Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong depending on the season. The airline also served Chongqing, Chengdu, and Hangzhou, China as well as Incheon (Seoul), Korea, with seasonal services. The route from Hong Kong to Koror, Palau started in mid-December 2013 with twice-weekly frequencies.
The airline also provided technical services to other airlines at Male' Ibrahim Nasser International Airport including AOG support. The airline could also provide ground handling supervision and permit management services to other foreign airlines as well. The corporate headquarters of MEGA Maldives Airlines was located in Male', Maldives.[4]
In September 2016, MEGA Maldives announced it would cut 65 of its 400 staff as well as postponing planned new routes until further notice due to the severely decreased Chinese leisure market.[5] In the same month, the airline introduced its first Boeing 737-800 on wet-lease from Travel Service. The aircraft is part of its fleet modernization program and will be used for increased connectivity between short and medium ranged destinations, notably opening up new destinations in India and Sri Lanka.[6]
Mega Maldives suspended all remaining operations on 12 May 2017 stating restructuring measures. Beforehand, it already significantly reduced its network down to only two Chinese destinations.[7]
Prior to the suspension of all operations, MEGA Maldives operated scheduled and charter flights to the following destinations:[8]
Prior to operational suspension. MEGA Maldives' fleet consisted of the following aircraft:
| Boeing 767-300ER | 4 | |
| Boeing 757-200 | 1 | |
| Boeing 737-800 (Leased from Travel Service) | 1 |