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Velana International Airport (MLE) arrivals and departures Arrivals and Departures

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Good to know

Distance to Hulhumalé2.1km
Distance to Guraidhoo34.0km
Most popular destinationColombo

About Velana International Airport

  • Located in Malé Atoll, Velana International Airport is a main airport for people travelling to and from Malé.

  • The airport is also used by passengers travelling to or from nearby Mahibadhoo and Guraidhoo, making it a major gateway for the wider region.

  • Here are some of the busiest airlines at Velana International Airport worth knowing before you book:

  • Leaving from Malé and want some ideas of where to go? Flights from Velana International Airport can take you direct to sought-after destinations like these:

    • Colombo

    • Dubai

    • Kuala Lumpur

    • Dharavandhoo

    • Hanimaadhoo

  • January, July, and December are the busiest months at Velana International Airport. December and January draw visitors seeking dry, sunny conditions during the Maldives' peak season, while July benefits from European summer holidays bringing strong leisure travel to the islands.

  • March, April, and June tend to see lower arrival volumes at Velana International Airport. March and April mark the transition toward the wet season, softening demand, while June sits at the start of the rainy season, when visitor numbers typically ease off.

How to get from Velana International Airport to Malé

  • You can make your way to the centre of Malé by bus from the airport. The RTL Airport Bus takes around 15 minutes to reach a central hub like Malé.

  • Getting from Velana International Airport to Malé is straightforward — a short speedboat or ferry ride connects the island airport to the capital. Taxis are available on the Malé waterfront once you arrive.

How to get to Velana International Airport from Malé

  • If you're travelling from the city by bus, catch the RTL Airport Bus. Hop on at Malé and it'll take you roughly 15 minutes to reach the airport.

  • If you're driving from central Malé or a friend drops you off, it'll take 10 minutes or so to get to the airport.

  • Velana International Airport sits on its own island, Hulhule, so the only way to get there from Male is by water. Most people take the public ferry, which departs from the Male Ferry Terminal. Speedboat transfers are also widely available and drop you closer to the terminal.

Velana International Airport facilities

  • Velana International Airport is spread across four terminals.

  • If you don't want to fly on an empty stomach, take advantage of the cafes and coffee shops and fast food. You'll also find grab-and-go options and sit-down restaurants.

  • You can check out the shops before heading to the gate. Browse the convenience stores, duty-free outlets, fashion and accessories, and souvenirs and gifts if you need a quick pre-flight purchase.

  • Got time to kill before your flight? You may be able to use an airport lounge for a comfier wait. These are the types of lounges at Velana International Airport:

    • Airport lounges

    • Business and first class lounges

    • Membership lounges

    • Paid lounges

  • You'll find several options for parking at Velana International Airport. Here are the main types:

    • Long stay

    • Pick-up/drop-off

    • Short stay

Where to stay near Velana International Airport

  • Catching a late flight to Velana International Airport or heading out bright and early? Aina Residency Beachfront Hotel is a good choice when you need rest close by. It features parking, shuttle services, and a trouser press and is around 3 kilometres away.

  • Another option nearby is Amber Beach Hotel at Hulhumale. Roughly 3 kilometres from the airport, amenities here include a laundry, a cafe, and a restaurant.

  • Barceló Nasandhura Male also cuts down the transfer time when you're flying in or out. It's about 2 kilometres away and includes a meeting room, a banqueting service, a fitness centre, and more.

Car rental options near Velana International Airport

  • If Malé is where your trip begins, consider picking up a car rental at Velana International Airport.

Velana International Airport FAQs

Currently, there don’t seem to be any car hire pick-up points near to Velana International Airport’s Arrivals or Departures.

For international arrivals, it usually takes around an hour to clear Velana International Airport’s passport control and claim your baggage if you checked any in. Domestic arrivals to Velana International Airport don’t need to pass through passport control, so take a little less time.

If you’re heading to Velana International Airport arrivals to pick up a family member or friend, consider arriving half an hour after their flight is due to touch down.

We recommend you leave at least two and a half hours between your inbound and outbound flights, especially if you are self-transferring on an international flight. When you self-transfer, you may need to clear customs, claim any luggage and then check it back on to your next flight yourself. Take into account that you might need to change terminals, or it could take longer than necessary to navigate Velana International Airport’s departure lounge.

The R One is the highest-rated hotel near Velana International Airport, just 2.2km away. Other great hotels nearby include Terminal 27 (2.1km from the airport), and Paralian Hulhumale' (2.8km away).

Check-in and bag drop often close an hour before your scheduled departure time for domestic flights, and sometimes an hour and a half before for longer-haul international flights. As a rule of thumb, you should try to arrive at Velana International Airport two hours before you fly but check with the airline you’re flying with.

Don’t worry if there’s no information available on our live flight tracker. We try our best to pull it directly from each airline but sometimes this might not work properly. Try contacting the airline directly, or checking their website to see if you can get an update.

Don’t panic! If you are not already at Velana International Airport, try contacting the airline directly to see if you can get on the next flight out, or a refund.

If you’re already inside Velana International Airport Departures when you find out, head to the airline’s desk to speak directly with someone.

If there are no more flights to your destination with the same airline and you really need to get there soon, we recommend searching for a new flight with Skyscanner and booking as soon as possible. You can then try to claim a refund for the original cancelled flight.

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