Airports in Maldives: Everything You Need to Know Before You Fly

The Maldives is made up of 1,192 coral islands across 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean. Getting to your resort usually takes more than one flight. After you land, you might need to take a seaplane, speedboat, or domestic flight, depending on your resort’s location. With 18 airports in the country, knowing which one serves your resort helps make your arrival easier.

This guide lists the 10 main airports in the Maldives, along with their names, IATA codes, locations, and the best ways to reach each one.

10 Key Airports in the Maldives: Airport Name, Code & Atoll

Below is a list of the 10 main airports in the Maldives, both international and domestic, with their IATA codes and atoll locations. This will help you find the airport closest to your resort.

Tribe Travel Tip: If your resort is in Baa, Noonu, or Raa Atoll, flying into Maafaru (NMF) or using Dharavandhoo (DRV) as your transfer point can save you a lot of time compared to going through Velana (MLE).

Which Is the Main Airport in the Maldives for International Travel?

The Maldives has five airports designated for international operations, though Maamigili (Villa International Airport) now operates as a domestic airport in practice. The four actively handling international flights are Velana, Gan, Hanimaadhoo, and Maafaru. These are your main entry points into the country, where you clear immigration before transferring to your resort island by seaplane, speedboat, or domestic flight.

1. Velana International Airport (MLE): North Malé Atoll

Maldives airport code (IATA): MLE | ICAO: VRMM
Airlines: Emirates, Qatar Airways, IndiGo, SriLankan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and 25+ carriers.
Facilities: Duty-free, lounges, restaurants, seaplane terminal, pharmacy, ATMs.
Getting there: Ferry (MVR 15), taxi via Sinamale Bridge, speedboat.
Best for: All international arrivals; maximum resort transfer options.

Velana International Airport is the main airport in the Maldives, located on Hulhulé Island, about 2 km from the capital Malé. It is connected to the city via the 2.1-kilometre Sinamale Bridge. Operated by MACL, Terminal 1 opened in July 2025, raising the airport's annual passenger handling capacity to 7.5 million. The Noovilu Seaplane Terminal here is the world's largest seaplane terminal, connecting arriving guests to resort islands across the atolls. 

2. Gan International Airport (GAN): Addu Atoll

Maldives airport code IATA: GAN | ICAO: VRMG
Airlines: Maldivian (domestic); SriLankan Airlines (Colombo).
Facilities: Passenger terminal, restaurant, lounge, duty-free, and prayer room.
Best for: Travellers heading to Addu City or southern atoll resorts.

Gan International Airport is the second-largest airport in the Maldives, located on Gan Island in Addu Atoll, around 544 km south of Malé. Originally built by the Royal Navy, it is now managed by Addu International Airport Pvt. Ltd. and is the most practical entry point for southern Maldives resorts, saving travellers a long transfer from the main Maldives international airport in Malé. Flight options are limited compared to Velana, but connectivity is improving.

3. Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HAQ): Haa Dhaalu Atoll

Maldives airport code IATA: HAQ | ICAO: VRMH
Airlines: Maldivian (Malé, Dharavandhoo, Ifuru); seasonal service to Trivandrum.
Facilities: Passenger terminal, check-in counters, waiting lounge, café.
Best for: Travellers to the northern Maldives, especially those flying in from South India.

Hanimaadhoo International Airport is located on Hanimaadhoo Island in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, about 287 km north of Malé. Operated by MACL, it is the main airport serving the northern Maldives. It primarily operates domestic routes, with seasonal international flights to Trivandrum, India. For travellers from South India heading to the northern atolls, this airport can be a more direct entry point than Velana International Airport.

4. Maafaru International Airport (NMF): Noonu Atoll

Maldives airport code (IATA): NMF | ICAO: VRDA
Airlines: Private jets, charter flights, select international connections; operated by IASL.
Facilities: VIP lounge, immigration, customs, and an extended runway.
Best for: Direct access to Noonu, Raa, and Baa Atoll resorts.

Maafaru International Airport opened in 2019 in Noonu Atoll, around 180 km north of Malé. A runway expansion completed in 2025 now allows it to handle wide-body aircraft, and a terminal expansion with VIP lounges is currently underway.

Which Are the Main Domestic Airports in the Maldives?

Domestic airports are key for getting between atolls in the Maldives. They link remote islands to Malé and help you avoid long boat rides. The main airlines for these routes are Maldivian Airlines and Flyme.

1. Villa International Airport / Maamigili Airport (VAM): Alifu Dhaalu Atoll

Maldives airport code (IATA): VAM | ICAO: VRMV
Airlines: Flyme (to Malé, Gan, Dharavandhoo, Fuvahmulah); chartered seaplanes also operate here.
Best for: Access to central atoll resorts.

Located on Maamigili Island in Alifu Dhaalu Atoll, about 108 km southwest of Malé, this airport is operated by the Villa Group and serves as the base for Flyme (also known as Villa Air). Though it was once designated as an international airport, it now operates domestic routes. Nearby resorts like Conrad Maldives Rangali Island and Sun Island Resort are accessible by speedboat from here.

2. Dharavandhoo Airport (DRV): Baa Atoll

Maldives airport code (IATA): DRV | ICAO: VRMD
Airlines: Flyme and Maldivian (8-9 flights daily to Malé, Hanimaadhoo, and Ifuru).
Best for:Divers, nature travellers, and resort guests in the UNESCO Biosphere area.

Dharavandhoo Airport is the main domestic airport serving Baa Atoll, the Maldives' only UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is about 115 km northwest of Malé and operated by Island Aviation Services. Baa Atoll is best known for Hanifaru Bay, one of the world’s top sites for manta ray and whale shark encounters.

3. Kadhdhoo Airport (KDO): Laamu Atoll

Maldives airport code (IATA): KDO | ICAO: VRMK
Airlines: Flyme and Maldivian (connecting Malé, Gan, Kaadedhdhoo, Kooddoo).
Best for: Laamu Atoll resort transfers.

One of the oldest domestic airports in the Maldives, Kadhdhoo Airport, was built in the 1980s to connect the far southern islands to the capital. It is located on Kadhdhoo Island in Laamu Atoll, approximately 260 km from Malé, and is operated by the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).

4. Kooddoo Airport (GKK): Gaafu Alifu Atoll

Maldives airport code (IATA): GKK | ICAO: VRMO
Airlines: Maldivian.
Best for: Southern Maldives island-hopping and resort transfers in Gaafu Alifu.

Kooddoo Airport opened in 2012 on Kooddoo Island in Gaafu Alifu Atoll, about 384 km south of Malé. It is owned by Bonavista Maldives Pvt Ltd and operated by Island Aviation Services. Maldivian connects to Malé, Gan, and Kadhdhoo, making it a useful stop for travel to the southern atolls.

5. Ifuru Airport (IFU): Raa Atoll

Maldives airport code (IATA): IFU | ICAO: VREI
Airlines: Maldivian.
Best for: Access to Raa Atoll and Noonu Atoll resorts.

Ifuru Airport sits on Ifuru Island in Raa Atoll, around 177 km north of Malé. Built in 2015 by Ifuru Investments (a joint venture between Argo Marine Pvt Ltd and the Government) and now operated by Island Aviation Services, it connects the Raa and Noonu Atolls to the capital. Maldivian operates flights linking Ifuru to Malé and Dharavandhoo.

6. Fuvahmulah Airport (FVM): Gnaviyani Atoll

Maldives airport code (IATA): FVM | ICAO: VRMR
Airlines: Maldivian and Flyme (to Malé and Gan).
Best for: Off-the-beaten-path travellers and divers.

Fuvahmulah Airport is one of the most remote airports in the Maldives, serving Fuvahmulah Island approximately 500 km south of Malé. It opened in 2011 and is owned and operated by the Government of the Maldives. The island is known for its freshwater lakes and is a popular destination for divers, particularly for encounters with tiger sharks. Flight schedules may be limited, so check schedules ahead of your holiday.

How to Get from the Airport to Your Resort in the Maldives?

After you arrive at a Maldives international airport, you’ll still need to get to your resort island. Most resorts don’t have their own airports, so transfers are part of every holiday. There are three main ways to reach your resort:

1. Seaplane Transfers

Seaplanes offer the most scenic way to reach your resort. They fly straight from Velana’s Noovilu Seaplane Terminal to the islands, giving you great views of the atolls and lagoons. Most routes are run by Trans Maldivian Airways and Manta Air. Seaplanes only fly during the day, so if you arrive at night, you’ll need to stay at a hotel near the airport and transfer the next morning. Be sure to book your seaplane in advance, especially during busy months.

2. Speedboat Transfers

Speedboats operate 24/7 and are the most flexible way to get to your resort. Most resorts within two hours of the main airport use speedboats for transfers. They work for both day and night arrivals and are usually used for resorts that are close by.

3. Domestic Connecting Flights

If your resort is near airports such as Kadhdhoo, Kooddoo, or Fuvahmulah, which are far from Malé, taking a domestic flight is usually the best option. This is also true if you fly into a regional airport near your resort, like Gan in the south or Hanimaadhoo in the north, instead of going through Velana.

What Should You Know Before Flying to the Maldives?

Reaching a Maldives resort involves more than booking a flight. Seaplane schedules, luggage limits, and transfer times all matter, so planning ahead will make your trip much easier. Here are some things to remember before you travel.

• Seaplane slots during peak season (December to April) book out weeks in advance. Make sure you book your transfer as soon as your flights are confirmed.
• The main Maldives airport code is MLE for Velana. If your itinerary includes a domestic connecting flight, double-check which airport it departs from before you land.
• Seaplanes have a strict 20 kg luggage limit. Pack light and use soft-sided bags. Hard suitcases can be a problem on smaller seaplane transfers.
• If your resort requires a seaplane, try to land at Velana before early afternoon. Seaplanes fly only during daylight, so a late arrival means an overnight stay near the airport.
• December to April is the most reliable time to fly around the Maldives. During the wet season (May to November), flights and seaplane transfers can get cancelled with little notice.

Ready to Plan Your Maldives Getaway with Holiday Tribe?

The Maldives has a unique airport network designed to help travellers reach their island resorts across the ocean. Knowing which airport in Maldives serves your atoll, your transfer options, and how to plan for seaplane schedules can really improve your holiday.

If you’re flying into Velana or another regional Maldives international airport, a bit of planning makes everything easier. Ready to book your Maldives getaway? Get in touch with Holiday Tribe, and we’ll handle every detail, from your flights to your resort transfer.