Velana International Airport is the main international airport in the Maldives. It is located on Hulhulé Island in the North Malé Atoll, near the capital Malé island. The aerodrome is well connected with major airports around the world and mostly serves as the main gateway to the Maldives for tourists and private jet charter services. It is financially and administratively managed by an independent legal entity known as Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).
Maldives private jet charter prices
Although Maldives air charter fees depend on variables such as the number of passengers, departure airport, flight time, aircraft position, flight date, the prices for private jet charter from Istanbul → Maldives are as follows.
| Heavy Jet | 81.100 EUR |
| Long Range Jet | 97.750 EUR |
| VIP Airliner | 192.800 EUR |
These prices are average amounts and you can contact us on our flight reservation screen or by phone for the most accurate price information.
History of Maldives Velana Airport
The airport opened on October 19, 1960, on a small strip of land on the island of Hulhulé, which was the settlement of the time. When the tourism boom in the Maldives began in 1972, the country needed an airport of international standard to transport international tourists to the resort islands. Thus, on November 11, 1981, the airport was officially opened under the name “Malé International Airport”. Maldives Airports Company Ltd (MACL) was established on January 1, 1994 to operate and manage Malé International Airport.
On July 26, 2011, Malé International Airport was officially renamed as Ibrahim Nasir International Airport in memory of Ibrahim Nasir, the 2nd President of Maldives and the founder of the airport. In 2017, 6 years after the name change, the Airport changed its name again to its current name, Velana International Airport.
In 2010, the Nasheed management decided to privatize the airport and started a tender. The tender was won by a consortium between GMR Group and Malaysia Airports, which provided 1 billion Rufiyaa advance payment to the government for the expansion and modernization of the airport and its operation for 25 years until 2014. After the change of management in 2012, the contract was terminated unilaterally and on December 7, and GMR handed over the aerodrome to the government.
In 2018, a new runway was added to the airport in order to meet the increasing tourist demand. After the test flights, the new runway was certified as usable and a new apron was opened for flight operations on July 17, 2019.
Maldives Travel Guide
There are two points that can be referred to as a city in the Maldives, which consists of island communities. One of them is Malé, the capital of the country, and Abdu, the second largest city. Maldives, the holiday paradise of South Asia, consists of approximately 1200 islands and almost all islands are used for touristic purposes.
Bathala Island, which attracts attention with its fine sand and clear sea, is the most touristic spot in the country. The Victory Shipwreck, which is the most frequented spot for tourists interested in diving, Hukuru Miskiiy Mosque, which is one of the rare historical artifacts found throughout the country and built by Ibrahim Iskender in 1656, Maldives National Museum, the country’s first national museum, and The Artificial Beach located in the capital Malé and mostly used by locals, are the top places to visit.
Among the most visited islands in the country are Safari Island, Thulhagiri Island, Maafushi Island, Sun Island, Vilu Reef Island and Vaadhoo Island.
Transportation information to Maldives Velana Airport
There is a 24/7 bus service between Velana International Airport and Hulhumalé. These buses depart from the airport every 30 minutes and reach the city center within 15 minutes.
Local boats for inter-island cruises are available 24 hours a day, there is no fixed pricing for these boats and usually negotiation is needed. It is also possible to rent a private speedboat on the islands.
