Maldives airports · live intelligence
Male Velana International Airport (MLE).
Hulhumalé
Velana International Airport (MLE) — often called Malé International Airport — is the main gateway for almost every Maldives visitor. A new international Terminal 1 opened in July 2025; domestic flights use Terminal 2. Onward resort travel continues by speedboat, seaplane, or domestic flight depending on the property and atoll.
Live FIS data · atoll resorts · transfer guidance
At a glance
Velana International Airport
International hub
ICAO
VRMM
Operator
Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL)
Location
Hulhulé Island (adjacent to Hulhumalé and Malé)
Timezone
UTC+5 (Maldives Time)
Elevation (approx.)
2 m AMSL
Coordinates (ARP)
4.192°N, 73.529°E
Opened
1966
Runway (approx.)
3,400 m (18/36)
Common operators
Maldivian (domestic hub) · Manta Air (domestic) · FlyMe / Villa Air (domestic) · Trans Maldivian Airways (seaplane) · Maldivian Aero (seaplane)
- Main international gateway — virtually all overseas visitors enter the Maldives here.
- New international Terminal 1 opened July 2025 (about 78,000 m², design capacity ~7.5 million passengers per year); the former 1981 international building now serves as Terminal 2 for domestic flights.
- Code F asphalt runway about 3,400 m × 60 m — supports wide-body long-haul including A380 (first landing June 2019).
- Noovilu Seaplane Terminal opened October 2022 — separate check-in from the main terminal; resort transfers usually include a short shuttle (about 5–10 minutes).
- Connected to Malé and Hulhumalé by the 2.1 km Sinamale Bridge plus public ferries — useful if you need an overnight before an onward seaplane.
- Hub for Maldivian domestic hops to regional atoll airports across the archipelago; also connects to 30+ international airlines serving roughly 35+ overseas destinations.
Velana is operated by MACL, a state-owned company and the Maldives' largest airport operator. The billion-dollar expansion programme added the new runway, seaplane terminal, and Terminal 1 to match tourism growth.
Seaplane alternative
Seaplanes operate daylight hours only — last resort departures from Velana are typically around 15:30–16:00 MVT. Late international arrivals may require an overnight in Hulhumalé/Malé before an onward seaplane.
Reference data verified against public airport sources (2026). Live schedules on this page override typical timings.
Location
Velana International Airport on the map
4.192°N, 73.529°E
Elevation about 2 m above mean sea level
Velana sits on Hulhulé island in North Malé Atoll — the hub for international arrivals and domestic connections across the archipelago.
View on mapLive schedule
Today's Velana board
| Time | Flight | Airline | Route | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:28 | XY 245 | Flynas | RUH → MLE | Landed |
| 12:47 | Q2 243 | Maldivian | HAQ → MLE | Landed |
| 12:49 | 6E 1131 | Indigo | BOM → MLE | Landed |
| 12:53 | 6E 1129 | Indigo | TRV → MLE | Landed |
| 13:12 | G9 091 | Air Arabia | SHJ → MLE | Landed |
| 13:14 | SQ 431 | Singapore Airlines | MLE → SIN | Departed |
| 13:28 | VP 8625 | Villa Air | DDD → MLE | Landed |
| 13:34 | Q2 224 | Maldivian | DRV → MLE | Landed |
Showing 8 of 174 scheduled flights today.
International arrivals
65
International departures
71
Cancellations today
0
Domestic hops today
38
Velana weather
Operational snapshot
Terminal flow: strained — 4 international delays over 45 min — coordinate meet-and-greet handoffs.
Transfer coordination: elevated — 4 international delays ≥45 min — transfer coordination warning active.
Top international origins today
- CMB · 24 flights
- DXB · 19 flights
- KUL · 10 flights
- HKG · 8 flights
- SIN · 7 flights
- SHJ · 6 flights
- AUH · 6 flights
- DOH · 5 flights
For journey times and carriers from each city, see our flight-time guides.
Transfer planning
Transfer decision tree
Speedboat resorts
Common in North and South Malé atolls. Usually available around the clock — a late international arrival is often still workable.
Seaplane resorts
Daylight operations only; last departures from Velana are typically around 15:30–16:00 MVT. Plan morning or early-afternoon international arrivals when possible.
Domestic flight + boat
Outer atolls may use MLE → regional airport hops (DRV, VAM, GAN, etc.) then resort speedboat. Confirm routing with your agent — schedules vary by day.
Live schedule
Today's Velana board
| Time | Flight | Airline | Route | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:47 | Q2 243 | Maldivian | HAQ → MLE | Landed |
| 13:28 | VP 8625 | Villa Air | DDD → MLE | Landed |
| 13:34 | Q2 224 | Maldivian | DRV → MLE | Landed |
| 14:07 | Q2 8270 | Maldivian | MLE → GKK | Departed |
| 14:16 | VP 606 | Villa Air | MLE → VAM | Departed |
| 14:19 | Q2 263 | Maldivian | GKK → MLE | Landed |
Showing 6 of 38 scheduled flights today.
Planning
Transfer guide
Most international guests arrive at Velana (MLE) before any resort transfer. International arrivals use Terminal 1 (opened July 2025); domestic connections and Maldivian check-in are in Terminal 2 — typically a short walk between them after immigration.
Speedboat resorts in North and South Malé atolls can usually be reached around the clock; seaplane transfers are daylight-only with last departures typically around 15:30–16:00 MVT. Seaplane check-in is at the separate Noovilu Seaplane Terminal — resort reps usually arrange a shuttle from the main terminal.
Seaplane transfers are daylight-only — last departures from Velana are around 15:30-16:00. Arrivals after that mean a Hulhumalé airport-hotel overnight before the onward seaplane. Speedboat resorts in North and South Malé atolls run 24 hours, so a late landing is no problem for them.
Resorts in outer atolls may require a domestic flight to a regional airport (such as Dharavandhoo, Maamigili, or Gan) followed by a boat transfer. Always confirm final transfer timing with your resort or travel agent — schedules vary by day and weather.
Same-day seaplane window
Velana (MLE) seaplane cutoff, at a glance.
- Land at Malé (MLE) by
- ~15:00 — for a same-day seaplane — check-in for the last rotations typically closes around 15:30.
- Seaplane operating window
- ~06:00–16:00 — daylight-only by regulation; last departures to resorts run around 15:30–16:00.
- Landing after ~15:30
- Overnight, then morning seaplane — resorts arrange a Hulhumalé or airport-hotel night and the transfer continues at first light.
- Speedboat resorts
- No cutoff — North and South Malé Atoll speedboats run day and night — late arrivals are no problem.
- Departure day
- Fly out after ~09:00 — so the morning seaplane back to Velana connects comfortably with your international flight.
- Resort needs your flights
- ≥48h ahead — seaplane rotations are scheduled around confirmed international arrivals.
Allow for a wait at the seaplane terminal — rotations consolidate guests heading to the same atoll. Exact windows vary by operator (Trans Maldivian Airways, Manta Air) and resort; your resort or our desk confirms the final schedule against your booking. Verified August 2026.
Explore further
Related links
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is Velana International Airport the same as Malé airport?
Yes. Velana International Airport (IATA: MLE) is the main international airport serving the Maldives capital region. It is widely referred to as Malé International Airport or Malé airport in travel booking systems.
What transfer options are available from MLE to resorts?
From Velana, resorts are usually reached by speedboat (common in North and South Malé atolls), seaplane (daylight hours, typically until around 15:30–16:00 MVT), or domestic flight plus boat for outer atolls. The correct option depends on your specific resort — confirm with your agent or property.
Can I see live MLE arrivals and departures?
Yes. Resortlife publishes a live Velana flight board at /fis, refreshed from the official Maldives FIS feed. This MLE airport page summarises today's traffic; the full board includes search, filters, and transfer-impact notes.
What happens if my international flight is delayed?
A late arrival may miss same-day seaplane windows for outer-atoll resorts. Speedboat properties in Malé atolls are more flexible. If you have a domestic connection, inform your resort or DMC promptly — they can often adjust boat meet times subject to schedule and weather.
Which international cities fly to MLE most often?
Common feeder routes include Colombo (CMB), Dubai (DXB), Doha (DOH), Singapore (SIN), Kuala Lumpur (KUL), and Abu Dhabi (AUH). See our flight-time guides for journey duration and carrier notes from each origin city.
What is the difference between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at Velana?
Terminal 1 is the new international terminal (opened July 2025) for overseas arrivals and departures. Terminal 2 is the former international building, now dedicated to domestic flights operated by Maldivian, Manta Air, and FlyMe. After immigration, domestic connections are typically a short walk within the same airport complex.
How many terminals does Velana Airport have?
Velana has three operational areas: the international terminal, the domestic terminal (a short walk from international arrivals after immigration), and the Noovilu Seaplane Terminal opened in 2022. Seaplane transfers require a separate check-in — resort reps or Trans Maldivian Airways typically arrange a shuttle from the main terminal.
Which airlines operate domestic flights from MLE?
Scheduled domestic departures from Velana are primarily operated by Maldivian (Q2), Manta Air, and FlyMe (Villa Air), using turboprop aircraft such as ATR 42/72 and Dash 8. Seaplane operators Trans Maldivian Airways and Maldivian Aero use the separate seaplane terminal.
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