Your guide to airports in the Maldives

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The main airports in the Maldives

Passengers arriving from major cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar normally land at Velana International Airport in Malé. There are other international airports in the Maldives, but they tend to operate to/from Sri Lanka and India.

Velana International Airport

Island: Hulhulé
Serves: North Malé Atoll
Terminals: 1 international, 1 domestic, 1 seaplane

Velana International Airport is nicknamed ‘the gateway to the Maldives’ for good reason. The country’s biggest airport welcomes over 400 flights a day and can accommodate large aircraft like the Airbus A380. From here, travellers can reach any other island in the country (time of day permitting) by transferring onto another commercial flight, a seaplane (from the adjacent terminal) or a boat.

Gan International Airport

Island: Gan
Serves: Addu Atoll
Terminals: 1 international/domestic, 1 executive (for Shangri-La Villingili Resort)

Gan Airport was built by the British Army as an airforce base during World War II and is now the Maldives’ second-biggest airport, servicing much of the country’s southern atolls. A private lounge reserved for private jet passengers offers one-stop immigration and baggage screening services for a seamless arrival.

Airports in the northern atolls

There are eight airports (including two smaller international ones) in the northern atolls, one of the country’s busiest regions for domestic travel thanks to a host of holiday resorts.

Hanimaadhoo International Airport

Island: Hanimaadhoo
Serves: Haa Dhaalu Atoll
Terminals: 1 international/domestic

Hanimaadhoo International Airport provides access to the Maldives’ northernmost atolls including Haa Alifu and Haa Dhaalu. The airport gained international status in 2012 with the introduction of direct flights to Thiruvananthapuram in India. Plans are in place to increase its size, with a new terminal in the works.

Maafaru International Airport

Island: Maafaru
Serves: Noonu Atoll
Terminals: 1 international/domestic

Maafaru International airport opened in 2019 to accommodate larger commercial aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. The airport’s sole terminal, which has a VIP lounge, mainly welcomes international flights from India.

Hoarafushi Airport

Island: Hoarafushi
Serves: Haa Alif Atoll
Terminals: 1 domestic

Opened in 2020, this is one of the Maldives’ newest airports. Built on its own plot of land away from locals, it’s a convenient travel option for residents of the Haa Alif, whose nearest airport was previously located in Hanimaadhoo.

Kulhudhuffushi Airport

Island: Kulhudhuffushi
Serves: Haa Dhaalu Atoll
Terminals: 1 domestic

Another relatively new airport, Kulhudhuffushi Airport opened in 2019 to serve the Haa Dhaalu Atoll. It has one 1,220-metre runway and a small terminal welcoming passengers from Dharavandhoo, Ifuru and Malé.

Funadhoo

Island: Shaviyani Atoll
Serves: Shaviyani Atoll
Terminals: 1 domestic

Funadhoo Airport opened in 2020 on a 21-hectare plot. The domestic travel hub was much anticipated by local residents and boasts a 1,200-metre runway.

Ifuru Airport

Island: Ifuru Island
Serves: Raa Atoll
Terminals: 1 domestic

Located on its own island, Ifuru Airport features a 1,200-metre runway that can handle turboprops. It welcomes several flights a day, mainly from Hanimaadhoo, Maafaru and Malé.

Dharavandhoo Airport

Island: Dharavandhoo
Serves: Baa Atoll
Terminals: 1 domestic

Situated about 115km away from Malé, this small domestic airport accommodates flights from islands including Dharavandhoo, Hanimaadhoo, Ifuru and Malé.

Madivaru Airport

Island: Madivaru
Serves: Lhaviyani Atoll
Terminals: 1 domestic

Madiviaru Airport began welcoming domestic flights in February 2022. Until then, the Lhaviyani Atoll was only accessible via seaplane, which meant visitors had to transfer from Velana International Airport’s seaplane terminal during daylight hours. Flights to and from Velana now take just 25-minutes and operate into the night.

Airports in the central atolls

There are two international airports in the central atolls, including Velana International Airport, plus three smaller domestic airports.

Villa International Airport

Island: Maamigili
Serves: Alif Dhaal Atoll
Terminals: 1 international/domestic

Although it has international status, the vast majority of flights landing at Villa International Airport (also known as Villa-Maamigili Airport) are domestic. Located near a host of luxury resorts, the airport is operated by Villa Group for its airline Flyme.

Dhaalu Airport

Island: Kudahuvadhoo
Serves: Dhaalu Atoll
Terminals: 1 domestic

Opened in 2018 and servicing a range of nearby resorts, Dhaalu Airport operates several daily scheduled flights to/from Velana International Airport. The small airport has a restaurant and VIP lounge.

Thimarafushi Airport

Island: Thimarafushi
Serves: Thaa Atoll
Terminals: 1 domestic

Located south of Malé, Thimarafushi Airport opened in 2013 to serve the Thaa Atoll. Passengers have to transfer through Velana International Airport to reach this small pocket of the Maldives.

Airports in the southern atolls

Gan International Airport is the only international airport in the south of the Maldives. It’s one of two airports in the country that lie south of the equator, with four more domestic airports to the north of the geographical landmark.

Kadhdhoo Airport

Island: Kadhdhoo
Serves: Laamu Atoll
Terminals: 1 domestic

Kadhdhoo is one of the Maldives’ older airports, connecting many of the country’s islands and atolls. The airport has a VIP lounge for passengers who want to relax whilst waiting for their flight.

Kooddoo Airport

Island: Kooddoo
Serves: Gaafu Alifu Atoll
Terminals: 1 domestic

Opened in 2012 to give locals and visitors access to the hard-to-reach Gaafu Alifu Atoll, Kooddoo Airport welcomes scheduled flights from Gan, Kadhdhoo and Malé.

Kaadedhdhoo Airport

Island: Kaadedhdhoo
Serves: Gaafu Dhaalu (South Huvadhu) Atoll
Terminals: 1 domestic

Kaadedhdhoo Airport lies south of Malé on a largely uninhabited island. Most passengers who land here then transfer by speedboat to the Huvadhu Atoll.

Maavarulu Airport

Island: Maavarulu
Serves: Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Terminals: 1 domestic

One of the region’s newest airports, Maavarulu opened in 2020 to accommodate the large numbers of people travelling to the Gaafu Dhaalu and Huvadhu Atolls. The airport provides easy access to Maavarulu from Gan, Kaadedhdhoo, Kooddoo and Malé.

Fuvahmulah Airport

Island: Fuvahmulah
Serves: Gnaviyani Atoll
Terminals: 1 domestic

One of the Maldives’ southern-most airports, Fuvahmuah Airport connects the Gnaviyani Atoll with Kaadedhdhoo, Kadhdhoo, Gan and Malé.

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