S7 Airlines now flies between Novosibirsk and Malé on Mondays and Fridays, so travellers from Siberia no longer need to change planes in Moscow. The first flight landed on 30 October 2026.
Travellers from Siberia have a new way to reach the Maldives. Russian airline S7 Airlines has started scheduled flights from Novosibirsk to Velana International Airport in Malé, and the first service touched down on Friday, 30 October 2026, with every seat taken.
The schedule
Flights leave from Tolmachevo International Airport in Novosibirsk twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays, on an Airbus A320. The journey covers roughly 5,600 km and takes about ten and a half hours, including a short refuelling stop in Termez, Uzbekistan. You stay on the same aircraft the whole way, so there is no connection to make in Moscow.
What it means for your trip
The route adds capacity just as the busy winter season begins, when flights and resort rooms both fill up early. With only two departures a week, it pays to fix your resort dates around the Monday and Friday flights before you book. For your return, the airport has moved international check-in for S7 and several other airlines to Terminal 2 for the peak season, so check which terminal you need on the day.
From Malé to your resort
How you continue from the airport depends on the island: speedboat for resorts close to Malé, seaplane for many in Ari, Baa and Lhaviyani, and a domestic flight for the far south. Seaplanes only fly in daylight, which matters if your flight lands late. Our guide to resort transfers explains the options, and we can match a resort to your arrival time.
Source: Hotelier Maldives.