Of course, this article is all about Velana Airport – the main international airport in Maldives. Around 99% of travelers arrive here for their holiday, and you will, too. I will share everything a tourist needs to know: infrastructure details, duty-free shopping, luggage storage, and how to get from Malé to the airport. You’ll also find information about the other airports in the country.
It will be difficult for you to plan your dream trip to Maldives without these websites
Table of Contents
Velana: The International Airport in Maldives
The full name is Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, named after the president who led the Maldives until 1978 and under whose leadership the country first opened its doors to tourism.
Did you know?
Today, the official name is Velana International Airport. “Velana” is one of President Nasir’s family names. This name has been officially used since 2017.
Almost every tourist to the Maldives lands here. Out of the country’s 17 airports (we’ll cover the others later), this is the only one with a runway over 3,000 meters long. That means it’s the only airport in Maldives capable of handling wide-body aircraft — the kind that bring tourists from all over the world.
A Brief History
Here’s a quick but fascinating history of this airport in Maldives to give you a complete picture.
The airport opened in 1960, with a runway made of metal sheets. It was just 900 meters long and had no lighting — meaning it could only handle small propeller planes during daylight hours.
In 1964, a competition was held between Malé’s four districts to build an asphalt runway. Volunteer teams from each district raced to finish their section, with the fastest team winning a grand prize of 1,000 rufiyaa.
With the start of the tourism boom, Velana Airport underwent major reconstruction, the runway was extended, and in 1981 it received full international airport status, meeting global standards of the time.
In 2018, the runway was expanded to 3,400 meters, allowing it to accommodate any size of aircraft from anywhere in the world.
In November 2022, Velana Airport opened a new seaplane terminal. (You can read our in-depth guide to inter-island seaplane transfers, prices, and how to book tickets via the link.)
In July 2025, a brand-new international terminal was inaugurated.
Interesting fact:
Until 2018, the airport in Malé was located on its own island, with ferry service being the only connection to the capital. In mid-2018, the 2-kilometer-long Sinamalé Bridge opened, linking the three main islands of the capital: Malé, Hulhulé (where Velana Airport is located), and Hulhumalé (a modern new district of Malé). Now you can easily reach the airport by bus as well.
General Information – Live Flight Board, Infrastructure, IATA Code
- IATA code: MLE
- Coordinates: 4.188791539230475, 73.52857873558743
- Official website: https://www.macl.aero/ (very user-friendly)
What to Expect
Velana International Airport in Maldives is not as large as the world’s major international hubs. Don’t expect anything overly extravagant — but it offers everything you need, and it’s all conveniently close and compact.
- Currency exchange – There is a bank where you can exchange money. The rate isn’t the most favorable, but it’s acceptable. (More about currency and exchange rates in our linked article.)
- Luggage storage – You can store your bags and explore Malé if you have a late flight. Prices range from about $7 to $13 per day per bag, depending on size.
- Mobile operators – Both Maldivian telecom providers have shops in the arrivals area, plus there are two self-service SIM vending machines. I recommend going to the official counters. (More about mobile plans, prices, and internet speeds in our Maldives guide.)
- Food & drink – You’ll find a fast-food outlet, cafés, and restaurants.
- Hotel counters – Right in the arrivals hall, where greeters wait, there are about 300 counters for hotels, resorts, islands, and private companies. If you have a transfer arranged — or are on a package tour — you simply find your counter, and they will guide you to your speedboat, seaplane, or taxi.
Duty Free and Souvenirs: Selection and Prices
This part of the guide gets a bit more interesting.
Important:
There are no duty-free shops or any stores at all in the arrivals area of Velana Airport. You can’t buy anything when you land. All duty-free and souvenir shopping is only available in the departures area.
The selection of alcohol and souvenirs is quite extensive. You can find pretty much anything you forgot to buy during your holiday — but be prepared for high prices. Why so expensive?
When it comes to alcohol, it’s easy to understand: the Maldives is a Muslim country, alcohol is prohibited, and where it is available, it’s very expensive.
Souvenirs are a different story. Most tourists spend their entire holiday at a private island resort, where there are no shopping malls or real stores — only the resort itself and the beach. At best, you might find a small souvenir shop. That’s why so many travelers wait until the airport to buy keepsakes, since for most of them it’s the only chance.
How Expensive Are We Talking?
I won’t list all alcohol prices in duty free, but here’s a comparison. There’s an unofficial way to measure the “price level” of duty free in any airport: check the cost of a 1-liter bottle of Martini. The global average is $9–10. In the airport in Maldives? $20. Here, alcohol is even pricier than in my local store back home.
When it comes to souvenirs, things get even worse. You won’t find a fridge magnet for under $5. Anything more interesting — expect $20, $30, even $50. I once saw a small wooden manta ray magnet priced at $25; I bought the exact same one on Rasdhoo island for $3.
Tip:
If you can, buy souvenirs before you get to the airport. Malé’s market has a lot of interesting options for up to ten times cheaper. The airport in Maldives is one of the priciest places for shopping.
You can check out our detailed articles on:
- Exploring Malé: sights, the market, and where to buy souvenirs.
- What to bring home from the Maldives (not just magnets!).
Alcohol Confiscation and Return Policy
Here’s a very brief version — the full guide on alcohol in the Maldives covers prices (from $100 per bottle), where you can buy it (almost nowhere), the official allowance (zero liters), and how baggage checks work. But let’s talk about the confiscation and return process here.
- The legal import limit for alcohol in the Maldives is 0 liters.
- Anything over that (including bottles bought in duty free during a transit stop) will be confiscated.
- Your hand luggage is scanned for liquids immediately after you leave the plane, and there’s another scanner in the “green channel” before exiting the arrivals hall.
- There’s no fine. Airport staff simply take your alcohol and fill out a confiscation form with your passport details. Sometimes you get a copy, sometimes not.
- You can reclaim your alcohol on your way out of the country — just present your passport.
Where and How to Get It Back
The alcohol return counter is located in the same hall as the check-in desks, just to the left of them, near the restrooms — but crucially, it’s after the first security checkpoint. You can’t access it without a valid ticket.
Very important:
First, collect your alcohol, then check in for your flight and place it in your checked baggage. If you check in first and keep it in your carry-on, it will be confiscated again at the next security point before duty free. Many travelers make this mistake.
Getting To and From Malé
This part is very straightforward. The main international airport in Maldives, as you’ve probably noticed, is located on its own island. The moment you step out of the terminal, you’re right at the pier, facing the ocean. There’s no need to walk a kilometer to reach a bus stop like in Montenegro or Qatar — here, everything is compact and close.
Fun fact:
Velana International Airport regularly appears in the top rankings of the world’s most beautiful airports. You’ll understand why as soon as you land. If you arrive during daylight hours, the turquoise water and postcard-perfect islands will greet you through your window.
Transport Options
- All speedboat and seaplane transfers to resorts pick up guests directly from the arrivals hall.
- Many speedboats also depart from the main airport pier: Hulhulé Ferry.
- From this same pier, ferries leave every 10–15 minutes for both Malé and the northern island of Hulhumalé. Tickets cost 10 rufiyaa (about $0.65), but for some reason the evening rate is 15 rufiyaa.
- Buses to Malé also depart every 15–20 minutes from here, with the same 10 rufiyaa fare.
Both ferries and buses take around 10–15 minutes to reach the capital.
Coordinates:
- Airport ferry pier: 4.18967460912598, 73.52686626060776
- Airport bus stop: 4.189204493188107, 73.52697925272528
- Hulhumalé ferry terminal: 4.217383242149406, 73.53720945551848
- Malé ferry terminal (Henveiru Ferry): 4.177906752166473, 73.51716442644583
- Malé bus terminal (Maafannu Bus Terminal): 4.169246657042577, 73.50466918752326
Important for onward ferry travel:
The ferry from the airport to Malé arrives only at Henveiru Ferry — the old terminal. But Malé has two ferry terminals, and about 80% of ferries to local islands depart from the new Villingili Terminal, located about 1.5 km away. You can take a taxi for around $3 or walk in 30 minutes.
Domestic Airports in the Maldives
The international airport in Malé — Velana — is not the only one in the country. In addition, there are 16 domestic airports with their own runways, plus around 300 seaplane docks (piers where seaplanes can moor after landing on the water).
Seaplane docks are simple: water, a pier, and that’s your airstrip. But seaplanes don’t operate at night or in bad weather.
Domestic flights, on the other hand, are a vital part of transportation between distant islands. They operate frequently, aren’t affected by weather, and are quite expensive for tourists — a 30–45 minute flight costs about $200 per person one way, and that’s not even for the farthest atolls.
Official domestic airline website: Maldivian.aero — check here for tickets, prices, and schedules.
Good to know:
Looking at the map of airports, you’ll notice that apart from Velana, there are no other airports in the central part of the Maldives — even though there are 4–5 large atolls there. For example, the popular Alif-Alif Atoll (North Ari), located about 60–70 km from Malé, can only be reached by sea or expensive seaplane transfers. There’s no conventional airport there. For more information on atolls and which island to choose for the best vacation, see the link provided.
Most domestic airports in Maldives have runways shorter than 2,000 meters. This means they can only handle small aircraft carrying around 40–50 passengers. The main fleet consists of twin-propeller Dash 8 planes with 50 seats.
Final Notes
In conclusion, the main international airport in Maldives is a modern facility with all essential infrastructure. It is the country’s primary transport hub, handling 99% of all tourist arrivals. Velana Airport is constantly being upgraded, expanded, and improved.
Even today, from Velana Airport you can easily fly or sail to any island or atoll in the country — whether by speedboat, seaplane, or domestic flight.
Resources to help you plan your dream trip to the Maldives
- Flight tickets and the best deals
- Vacation packages (from budget to luxury): CheapOair
- Hotels and guesthouses on any island:
- TripAdvisor compares prices among a dozen other services and platforms and offers to choose the best one.
- Trip.com – the most popular service for booking accommodation.
- 12go is the largest Asian ferry and speedboat reservation service. It gathers all Maldivian carriers, even the small ones that operate between local islands.
- Tours and excursions: Viator – a limited selection of excursions, but convenient and reliable.
- Comprehensive insurance: EKTA
- eSIM at the same price as in telecom office in Male airport.