Maldives Aims to Grow the Number of Airports for Easy Access

In recent years, the Maldives has made large investments in infrastructure. As a result, several new airports have been developed. The Maldives has built an efficient network focusing on domestic flights and meets the government’s goal to allow visitors to reach an airport in no more than 20 minutes by ferry or boat.

The country is now highly connected and, by the end of the year, will have a total of 16 airports, and the other two are scheduled to open in 2020. International flights serve the three main airports of Maldives (Velana International Airport, Gan International Airport and Hanimaadhoo International Airport), while seaplanes and domestic flights conveniently connect the archipelago. Private jets are also used to reach these airports.

Alongside charter and scheduled flights operated by international airlines, the Maldives has three airlines: Maldivian, FlyMe and Manta Air. The national airline, Maldivian, has 23 air crafts and provides international flights to countries such as India, China, Thailand and Bangladesh, as well as domestic connections.

Domestic routes are also served by FlyMe, which is operated by Villa Air and connects some islands of the archipelago, and by Manta Air, which flies from and to Malé, Dharavandhoo and Dhaalu Airport. Transport to resorts is also provided by the two seaplane companies operating throughout the archipelago: Trans Maldivian Airways, which serves over 70 resorts with its 52 seaplanes, and the state-owned airline Maldivian, which operates nine seaplanes.

List of Airports in the Maldives…

1. Velana International Airport, also known as Malé International Airport, is the main international airport of the Maldives. Located on Hulhulé island, a few minutes away from Malé, 98% of international flights arriving and departing from the Maldives use this airport.

2. Gan International Airport is located on the island of Gan, in Addu Atoll, the southernmost atoll of the Maldives. SriLankan Airlines serves this airport with regular flights from and to Colombo. Gan International Airport is also served by Maldivian, which operates on domestic routes (Malé, Fuvahmulah, Kaadedhdhoo, Kadhdhoo and Kooddoo).

3. Hanimaadhoo International Airport is on Haa Dhaalu Atoll, in the north of the archipelago. Maldivian Airline operates from this airport, serving domestic destinations (Malé, Dharavandhoo and Ifuru) and Thiruvananthapuram in India.

4. Maafaru International Airport is an international airport on the island of Maafaru, in Noonu Atoll (North Maldives). It is scheduled to open this month (September 2019). This airport will serve the area with international and domestic scheduled flights and private jets, which will provide the many luxury resorts with convenient connections in this atoll.

5. Kaadedhdhoo Airport is on the island of Kaadedhdhoo in Huvadhu Atoll (South Maldives). Maldivian Airline operates from and to this airport with domestic flights to Malé, Gan and Kadhdhoo.

6. Ifuru Airport is a domestic airport located on the island of Ifuru (Raa Atoll, North Maldives). Maldivian Airline operates regular flights from and to Malé, Dharavandhoo and Hanimaadhoo.

7. Dharavandhoo Airport is a domestic airport on the island of Dharavandhoo (Baa Atoll, North Maldives). The airport is served by FlyMe, Maldivian Airline and Manta Air, with domestic flights to Malé, Ifuru and Hanimaadhoo.

8. Thimarafushi Airport is a domestic airport located on the island of Thimarafushi in Thaa Atoll (South Maldives). Maldivian Airline serves this airport with flights from and to Malé.

9. Kadhdhoo Airport is a domestic airport on the island of Kadhdhoo in Laamu Atoll (South Maldives). Maldivian Airline serves this airport with regular flights from and to Malé, Gan, Kaadedhdhoo and Kooddoo.

10. Fuvahmulah Airport is a domestic airport located on the island of Fuvahmulah in Gnaviyani Atoll (South Maldives). Maldivian Airline and FlyMe operate from this airport with flights from and to Malé and Gan.

11. Dhaalu Airport is a domestic airport on the island of Kudahuvadhoo in Dhaalu Atoll (South Maldives). Manta Air serves this airport with flights from and to Malé.

12. Villa Airport Maamingili is located on the island of Maamingili, in Alif Dhaalu Atoll (South of Maldives). FlyMe operates domestic flights from and to Malé.

13. Kulhudhuffushi Airport is a domestic airport located on the island of Kulhudhuffushi, in Haa Dhaalu Atoll (North Maldives). It began its service in August 2019 with flights to Malé operated by Maldivian Airline.

Other five airports are expecting to start their service by 2020.

14. Funadhoo Airport is a domestic airport on the island of Funadhoo, in Shaviyani Atoll (North Maldives). This airport is scheduled to open by the end of 2019.

15. Madivaru Airport is a domestic airport on the island of Madivaru, in Lhaviyani Atoll (North Maldives). This airport is scheduled to open by the end of 2019.

16. Maavarulu Airport is a domestic airport located on the island of Maavaarulu, in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll (South Maldives). This airport is scheduled to open by the end of 2019.

17. Faresmaathodaa Airport is the third domestic airport located on Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll (South Maldives). Its building has not yet been completed and is scheduled to open in 2020.

18. Hoarafushi Airport is located on the island of Hoarafushi in the Haa Alifu Atoll (North Maldives). Its building has not yet been completed and is scheduled to open in 2020.