Owais Crawford
The Maldives is the most dispersed country in the world, with 1,192 islands spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometres. It is no surprise, then, that the country has 15 airports, including five international airports. The main gateway to the Maldives is Ibrahim/Malé/Hulhule International Airport, also known as Velana International Airport. It is located on Hulhule Island, just a 10-minute ferry ride from the capital of Malé. The airport is served by over 30 international flights daily, including major airlines such as Etihad Airways, Aeroflot, and Emirates. With over 400 flights arriving each day, travellers can reach any other island in the country by transferring to another commercial flight, a seaplane, or a boat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of airports | 15, including 5 international airports |
| Main airport | Velana International Airport (also known as Ibrahim/Malé/Hulhule International Airport) |
| Location of main airport | Hulhule Island |
| Distance from capital | 10 minutes by ferry or 2 kilometres |
| Number of terminals | 1 international/domestic, 1 executive |
| Daily international flights | Over 30 |
| Airlines | Etihad Airways, Aeroflot, Air Asia, Emirates, Sri Lankan, Singapore Airlines, Bangkok Airways, etc. |
| Facilities | Shops, health centre, duty-free shops, free internet kiosks, food centres, outdoor parks, parking, etc. |
| Other airports | Gan International Airport, Hanimaadhoo International Airport, Maafaru International Airport, Thimarafushi Airport, Kadhdhoo Airport, Kooddoo Airport, Maavarulu Airport, Fuvahmulah Airport, Maamigili Airport, Kulhudhuhfushi Airport, Shaviyani Funadhoo Airport, Lhaviyani Madivaru Airport |
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What You'll Learn
Male Velana International Airport
The airport first started out as a small strip of land on the then-uninhabited Hulhule Island. Hulhule Airport was opened on 19 October 1960, with the first aircraft to land being a Royal New Zealand Air Force Bristol Freighter. The first commercial flight was an Air Ceylon flight, which landed on 10 April 1962. In May 1964, the government and the people of Male worked together to construct a new asphalt runway, which was opened on 12 April 1966. The airport was officially renamed Ibrahim Nasir International Airport on 26 July 2011 in memory of the second President of the Maldives and the airport's founder. On 1 January 2017, the airport was rebranded as Velana International Airport, referring to the family house name of President Ibrahim Nasir.
The airport has a single asphalt runway, which was finished on 18 September 2018. It measures 3,400 metres (11,155 ft) long and 60 metres (197 ft) wide, built to serve larger aircraft. The adjacent waterdrome, which serves the large seaplane operations at Velana, has four water runways.
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Maafaru International Airport
The Maldives has eight airports, including two smaller international airports in the northern atolls, one of the country's busiest regions for domestic travel. The country's biggest airport, Velana International Airport, is nicknamed 'the gateway to the Maldives' and welcomes over 400 flights a day.
Maafaru has long been a popular nesting ground for endangered turtles. On 9 April 2019, a green sea turtle that had come to Maafaru to lay its eggs ended up laying them on the airport's runway. The turtle later died from its injuries. The airport's construction has faced opposition from the Maldivian environmentalist organisation SaveMaldives. The project has also been under audit by the Anti-Corruption Commission of the Maldives due to multiple allegations levelled at the contractor, Singaporean company Tuff Infrastructure Pvt Ltd.
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Hanimaadhoo International Airport
The Maldives, being the world's most dispersed nation, spread over an area of more than 90,000 sq km, relies heavily on its airlines and airports to connect its remote islands and reduce travel time between them. Hanimaadhoo International Airport is one of several airports in the Maldives that serve this purpose, each providing access to different atolls and islands.
Male Velana International Airport (also known as Ibrahim/Malé/Hulhule International Airport) is the country's biggest airport and is often referred to as "the gateway to the Maldives." It welcomes over 400 flights per day and can accommodate large aircraft like the Airbus A380. It is situated on Hulhule Island, about two kilometres away from the capital, and is well-connected, operating notable airlines like Emirates and Air Asia. The airport is connected to major cities like New Delhi, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Moscow, and it is also an active site for seaplane operations.
Other airports in the Maldives include Gan International Airport, the only international airport in the south of the country; Thimarafushi Airport, a small airport located south of Malé that opened in 2013 to serve the Thaa Atoll; and Kadhdhoo Airport, one of the country's older airports, connecting many of the Maldives' islands and atolls and offering a VIP lounge for passengers.
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Gan International Airport
The airport is managed by Addu International Airport Private Limited (AIA), a joint venture between GACL, MACL, and the State Trading Organization Plc (STO). STO sold its shares in the airport in February 2020, and as of June 2024, the Maldivian government owns 70% of AIA, with the remaining 30% held by KASA Holdings Private Limited.
In 2023, AIA signed a contract to further expand the airport, including plans for larger passenger terminals, a fire station, parking lots, cargo facilities, restaurants, and duty-free shops. Gan International Airport is capable of accommodating ICAO code 4E aircraft, ensuring efficient and comfortable travel to and from the Maldives.
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Thimarafushi Airport
The Maldives has several airports connecting its remote islands and reducing travel time between them. Thimarafushi Airport (TMF) is located on the island of Thimarafushi, serving the Thaa Atoll. The airport opened in 2013 and is a domestic airport, meaning passengers must transfer through the larger Velana International Airport (also known as Ibrahim/Malé/Hulhule International Airport) to reach it. This airport is situated about two kilometres away from the capital, Malé, and is the main gateway to the Maldives.
Velana International Airport, on the other hand, is the country's biggest airport, welcoming over 400 flights per day and accommodating large aircraft like the Airbus A380. It is a well-connected airport, operating notable airlines such as Emirates and Air Asia. It is connected to major cities worldwide, including New Delhi, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Moscow. The airport is also known for its long wait times at security checkpoints, so travellers are advised to arrive early and expect to queue.
Travellers can reach any other island in the Maldives from Velana International Airport by transferring to another commercial flight, a seaplane, or a boat. Ferry, speedboat, and seaplane transfers to Malé city and destination resorts are available from the airport. Additionally, the airport has a range of shops and facilities, including duty-free shops, free internet kiosks, and food centres.
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Frequently asked questions
The main airport in the Maldives is the Velana International Airport, also known as Ibrahim/Malé/Hulhule International Airport. It is located on Hulhule Island, about two kilometres away from the capital, Malé.
The airport can get very busy, with long wait times at security checkpoints. It is advised to arrive at least three hours before your flight is due to leave.
The airport is served by over 30 international flights, including Etihad Airways, Aeroflot, Air Asia, Emirates, Sri Lankan, Singapore Airlines, and Bangkok Airways.
The airport has a range of shops and facilities, including duty-free shops, free internet kiosks, and food centres. There is also a health centre and a VIP lounge for passengers who want to relax while waiting for their flight.
