The Government has rejected claims by premium airline Beond which said that it has been given national carrier status in the Maldives.
CEO of premium airline Beond Tero Taskila said this in an interview with CNN's Richard Quest on the Quest Means Business program.
During the interview, Quest said that the Maldives has given Beond national carrier status and asked the Company's CEO what this would mean for the airline.
In response, CEO Taskila said that with the national carrier status, Beond can access Maldivian bilateral treaties which would allow them to operate in 80 countries around the world.
Taskila said that this would further allow the airline to grow and introduce non-stop services where it would have a monopoly position.
He further said that these bilaterals would allow competing airlines from the other end to operate in the Maldives. However, he said that the airline does not see this happening and that if it indeed happened, the other airlines would not be able to match Beond's product.
Aviators Maldives reported yesterday that BEOND's distinguishing factor lies in its exceptional all-premium seating arrangement, boasting 68 fully lie-flat seats equipped with cutting-edge technology and luxurious materials.
It said that the airline's commitment to delivering a superior travel experience sets it apart from its competitors, raising the bar for luxury air travel in the region.
Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry said today that there is only one airline with national carrier status.
Speaking to 'The Press, an official at the Ministry said that the Maldivian Civil Aviation Authority has not granted any new Air Operator’s certificates (AOC) to any new airlines.
The official said that BEOND has sought a letter of no objection for the process of obtaining an AOC and that the process is ongoing it’s still not a registered airline in the Maldives.
The official also added that there’s only one airline with national Carrier status which is Maldivian and will continue to remain so.
