Roberta Aguirre
The Republic of Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is an island country in the Indian Ocean. It is formed by a double chain of 26 atolls, encompassing a territory of roughly 90,000 square kilometres. With hundreds of coral islands, breathtaking beaches, and crystal clear waters, it is no surprise that the Maldives is a popular international holiday destination. The country has 18 airports in total, including 5 international airports and 13 domestic airports, which are well-planned and offer top-notch connectivity. The main international airport is the Velana International Airport, located on Hulhulé Island, which serves as the main gateway to the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of airports | 18 (5 international and 13 domestic) |
| Main international airport | Velana International Airport (VIA), also known as Malé-Velana International Airport |
| Location of VIA | Hulhulé Island in the southern Malé Atoll |
| Distance from capital city, Malé | 3km |
| Management of VIA | Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) |
| Number of terminals at VIA | 3 |
| Capacity of VIA | 7.3 million passengers |
| Other international airports | Hanimaadhoo International Airport, Gan International Airport, Villa International Airport, Maafaru International Airport |
| Oldest airport | Hulhule Airport, inaugurated in 1981 |
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What You'll Learn
- The main international airport in the Maldives is Velana International Airport
- There are 4 international airports and 12-13 domestic airports in the Maldives
- The airport is located on Hulhulé Island, 3km from the capital city Malé
- The airport is managed by the Maldives Airports Company Limited
- The airport has 3 terminals and can withstand a capacity of 7.3 million passengers
The main international airport in the Maldives is Velana International Airport
The Republic of Maldives is an island country in the Indian Ocean, comprising a double chain of 26 atolls. It has 18 airports in total: 5 international and 13 domestic. The main international airport in the Maldives is Velana International Airport (VIA), also known as Malé-Velana International Airport. It is located on Hulhulé Island in the southern Malé Atoll, just 3km from the capital city of the Maldives, Malé.
Velana International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the Maldives. It first started out as a small strip of land on the then-inhabited Hulhulé Island. Hulhulé Airport was opened on 19 October 1960, and in 1966 it was equipped with a runway. In 1981, the airport was given international status and named Malé International Airport. On 26 July 2011, it was renamed the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport in memory of the country's second president and airport founder, Ibrahim Nasir. On 1 January 2017, the airport was rebranded as Velana International Airport, referring to the family house name of President Nasir.
Velana International Airport is well-connected with major airports around the world and serves as the main gateway to the Maldives for tourists. It is equipped with three terminals: one international, one domestic, and another water dome for seaplane operations. The airport has an annual capacity of 7.3 million passengers and is managed and operated by the state-owned Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL). It serves as the headquarters of two airline companies: Trans Maldivian Airways, which operates seaplanes, and Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives. Other major flight carriers operating at the airport include Emirates, Air Asia, China Eastern Airlines, and SriLankan Airlines, with the latter two offering the highest number of flights.
In addition to VIA, the Maldives has several other international airports, including Gan International Airport, Hanimaadhoo International Airport, and Maafaru International Airport. Gan Airport is smaller than VIA with limited flight operations, while Hanimaadhoo gained international status in 2012 with the introduction of direct flights to Thiruvananthapuram in India. Maafaru International Airport, which opened in 2019, can accommodate larger aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.
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There are 4 international airports and 12-13 domestic airports in the Maldives
The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is an island country in the Indian Ocean. It is formed by a double chain of 26 atolls, encompassing a territory of roughly 90,000 square kilometres. With 1,192 islets, 200 of which are inhabited, the Maldives is one of the most disparate countries in the world. The capital and largest city of the Maldives is Malé, located on the capital island of the same name.
When it comes to airports, the Maldives has revised its foreign investment policy to attract operators to its small island airports. While the primary international airport in the country is the Velana International Airport in Malé (also called the Male International Airport, with the airport code MLE), there are a few other international airports in the country. These include the Gan International Airport, which serves as both a domestic and international airport, the Hanimaadhoo International Airport, which services the upper northern locations, and the Maafaru International Airport, which opened at the end of 2019. Additionally, the Villa International Airport is another final airport commonly used for international travel.
The domestic airports in the Maldives are typically managed by Island Aviation Services and help travellers get from one island to another within the country. They cannot accommodate travel to another country or outside Maldivian airspace. Some of the top domestic airport options in the Maldives include Hanimaadhoo, which was previously a domestic airport but was turned into an international airport in 2012, and the Malé airport, which is the main airport for international travel, especially for US customers.
Overall, the Maldives has four international airports and approximately 12 to 13 domestic airports, with the distinction between some domestic and international airports being blurred as some smaller airports gain international capabilities.
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The airport is located on Hulhulé Island, 3km from the capital city Malé
The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is an island country in the Indian Ocean. It is formed by a double chain of 26 atolls, encompassing roughly 1,192 islets, of which 200 are inhabited. The capital and largest city of the Maldives is Malé, which has its own international airport.
The main international airport in the Maldives is Velana International Airport (VIA), also known as Malé-Velana International Airport, Male International Airport, or Ibrahim Nasir International Airport. It is located on Hulhulé Island in the southern Malé Atoll, just 3km from the capital city of Malé. The airport first started as a small strip of land on the then-inhabited Hulhulé Island and was inaugurated as Hulhule Airport in 1981. In 2011, it was renamed the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport in memory of the 2nd President of the Maldives, and in 2017, it was rebranded as Velana International Airport, referring to the family house name of President Ibrahim Nasir.
Velana International Airport is well-connected with major airports worldwide and serves as the main gateway to the Maldives for tourists. It offers both domestic and international flights and is equipped with modern facilities, including ATMs, forex counters, a pharmacy, free internet kiosks, baggage storage, duty-free shops, and food options. The airport has three terminals: one international, one domestic, and a water dome for seaplane operations. It can handle a capacity of up to 7.3 million passengers.
The capital island of Malé is easily accessible from the airport by ferry or speedboat. Ferries are the most affordable option, costing around MVR 15 during the day, with a surcharge for night-time travel. Speedboats and seaplanes are the only modes of transport available to resort islands from the airport.
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The airport is managed by the Maldives Airports Company Limited
The Maldives has several airports, including eight in the northern atolls. The main international airport in the Maldives is Velana International Airport (VIA), also known as Malé-Velana International Airport. It is located on Hulhulé Island in the southern Malé Atoll, close to the capital island of Malé.
The airport is managed financially and administratively by a state-owned company called the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL). MACL was formed on 1 January 1994 to operate and manage the airport, then known as Malé International Airport. The company is governed by a board of directors appointed by the President of the Maldives.
In 2010, the Nasheed administration decided to privatise the airport, and a bidding process was run by the IFC. The bid was won by a consortium between the GMR Group and Malaysia Airports, which paid the government 1 billion rufiyaa as an upfront fee for the expansion, modernisation, and operation of the airport for 25 years. As a result, MACL handed over the aerodrome licence to the newly formed GMR Malé International Airport Ltd (GMIAL).
However, in late 2012, the new government of the Maldives under the Waheed administration declared the concession agreement void, and GMIAL was given a seven-day deadline to evict the airport. This decision sparked mass protests from the government's opposition and criticism from the Indian government and media. GMR ultimately handed the airport back to the government, and MACL resumed its role as the airport's operator.
Today, the MACL-managed VIA offers both domestic and international flights and serves as the main gateway to the Maldives for tourists.
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The airport has 3 terminals and can withstand a capacity of 7.3 million passengers
The Maldives has a total of 18 airports, with 5 international airports and 13 domestic airports. The main airport in the Maldives is Velana International Airport, located on Hulhulé Island, near the capital city Malé. The airport serves as the main gateway to the Maldives and is well-connected to major airports worldwide.
Velana International Airport has 3 terminals and can accommodate 7.3 million passengers. The terminals include one international terminal, one domestic terminal, and a water dome for seaplane operations. The airport is managed and operated by the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) and serves as the headquarters for two airline companies: Trans Maldivian Airways and Maldivian, the national carrier of the Maldives.
The airport's history dates back to 1960 when it started as a small airstrip on Hulhulé Island. In 1966, the airport was equipped with its first runway, and in 1981, it was officially recognised as an international airport, named Malé International Airport. The airport has undergone rebranding and name changes over the years, reflecting the country's leadership and strategic plans.
The Maldivian government has prioritised the development and modernisation of its airports to cater to the growing tourism industry. The expansion plans include reclaiming land at the eastern end of the runway to construct new terminals and a separate cargo terminal. These improvements aim to enhance the airport's capacity and provide a seamless travel experience for the millions of passengers who visit the Maldives each year.
In addition to Velana International Airport, the Maldives has several other notable airports, including Gan International Airport, Hanimaadhoo International Airport, and Maafaru International Airport, each serving different regions of the country and contributing to its well-connected aviation network.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 18 airports in the Maldives, 5 of which are international airports.
The main airport in the Maldives is the Velana International Airport, also known as Malé International Airport or Ibrahim Nasir International Airport. It is located on Hulhulé Island, near the capital city Malé.
Other international airports in the Maldives include Gan International Airport, Hanimaadhoo International Airport, and Maafaru International Airport.
