Velana International Airport

Arrival was easy. Disembarkation was slow and the heat hits you when you hit the outside. The bus takes you to immigration and the queue looks long but took 20 minutes. Baggage claim took slightly longer. We were met by hotel rep and taken to our transport to the island. If you are staying in a Lux resort, the lounge area is fantastic as are the team who meet you and serve you in the lounge.

Velana international airport is the airport serving the country of Maldives, with its growing tourism industry. With increased strain and demand on a very old and small terminal, the new terminal has recently been opened, and more airlines are now commencing operations from there. Nevertheless, I travelled before the new terminal opened up fully (only for Maldivian at a time which is horrendously overpriced always). During the morning, with only a few flights departing, the airport is not difficult to navigate through. However, at peak times, you may wait more than an hour without any air conditioning in the outer parts of the old terminal, since it's not fully air conditioned. It's not the cleanest, and the airport toilets are grossly below the international standards the tourism industry of it's country set itself to. There is a small duty free area, and there are a few restaurants that are very expensive. Even for locals, water bottle is 30-60rf for 500ml (usually it's 3-5rf) so it's extremely expensive. The boarding gates are pretty good, with ATM, toilets, and decent amount of seating. The boarding gates aren't seperated much, and there TVs to show flight departure. The wayfinding signage throughout the airport is not great, all the signs are very dim or just paper now. But, the new airport is a massive improvement for the entire country. Hopefully, other "international" airports like Addu, Hanimadhoo, and Maafaru could also be developed to serve regional flights, which will help reduce the burden on this one airport. The new airport introduced jetbridges which is more convinent than waking or taking a small bus to the airplane too! The domestic terminal is way smaller, and doesn't have a proper lounge. Boarding gate are to close one hour before departure for domestic flights, so it's not necessary to arrive early. Domestic terminal serves it's purpose, but it could be expanded upon for the growing domestic flight industry, as even more islands have airports now.

The current airport is decent enough for accessing the Maldives' magic, though it shows its age and lacks digital boarding. The future is incredibly bright with the Chinese-aided new airport nearing completion! This development will revolutionize arrivals/departures and bring significant employment. Immense gratitude to the dedicated workers from both Maldives and China! I will absolutely be back to enjoy the improved experience and support this progress.

Gotta be one of the more special airports in the world where you’ll be greeted with sea breeze when you exit the arrival gate, and can opt for ferry or taxi to cross to Male island. The souvenir shop that’s tucked in the corner of departure level is actually not so overpriced, and worth checking it out.

Subject: Important Travel Reminder for Your Trip to the Maldives IMUGA travelers declaration form that needs to be filled before your upcoming trip to the Maldives. Even if you do not require a visa for your journey, it is mandatory for all passengers to complete this online form prior to arrival. Please ensure that you do so at least 96 hours before you land at Male International Airport. As you may already know, Velana Airport is one of the busiest in the region, handling around 250 international flights daily. Despite its large volume of incoming and outgoing flights, the airport is well-organized, and you can expect a seamless transition to your final destination. Upon arrival at the gate, hotels will be ready to transport you to your designated atoll. Speed boats are conveniently located just a few meters away from the airport, eliminating the need for additional transportation such as cars or buses. The proximity of the airport to the water ensures that hotel transfers are easily accessible and hassle-free. During our visit, we found the airport staff to be extremely professional and friendly. They took great care of us and ensured that our travel experience was efficient and problem-free. Safe travels

Male international airport: don’t forget to fill your IMUGA travelers declaration form before your trip. Even if you don’t need a visa all passengers must fill in this form online before arrival. You download your passport or take a photo from your phone from the site and fill the hotel where you are staying. You must do so 96 hours before arrival to the Maldives and You receive a 30 days visa. Velana airport is big enough as quiet many planes do lend there everyday. Approx 250 international flights. All is well organized at each flights. The hotels are waiting for you at the gate to transport you to your atoll. The speed boats are right outside the airport just a few meters away. No car or bus needed. All the hotel transportation are right there. The airport is right on the water. The staff was very professional and friendly. They look well after the tourists. We had no problems and everything was very efficient.

Velana International Airport in Malé is quite small and gets extremely crowded, especially during peak hours. There is no proper air conditioning in most areas, which makes waiting uncomfortable in the hot and humid weather. Basic services are available but limited, and overall, the experience is far from what you’d expect for such a popular tourist destination.

Velana International Airport may be relatively small and slightly chaotic, but it's surprisingly well-organised and runs smoothly with its own unique set of rules and local culture. Once you understand the flow, everything works efficiently. The airport offers basic but sufficient facilities — including grocery shops, toilets, fast food stalls, currency changers, and individual resort/hotel booths to assist with transfers. Staff are generally friendly and helpful, though it’s still easy to lose your way if you're new, even with the airport’s small size. A handy tip: after exiting the main entrance, just cross the road to reach the jetty, where you’ll find transfers to various island destinations. There are plenty of currency exchange counters just outside the arrival gate, so there’s no need to crowd or rush inside the arrival hall. Also, if you need to store your luggage or need guidance, there’s a luggage storage service and information counter to the left side after you exit the arrival hall. Overall, Velana gives you a warm island welcome with a system that works — just be ready to go with the flow!