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Wednesday 19 Aug 2026
LOCAL EDITION
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LOCAL EDITION
MACL welcomes passengers from HiSky’s inaugural flight to Terminal 1 at Velana International Airport on December 27, 2025. (Photo/MACL)
Velana International Airport (VIA) handled a total of 1.62 million passengers in the second quarter of this year, according to new statistics released by Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).
Passenger movement through VIA’s terminals saw a notable rise from April to June, driven by an increase in tourist arrivals and steady growth in domestic travel. Airport operations continued uninterrupted throughout the quarter, with several measures implemented to ease passenger flow and reduce inconvenience.
International passengers made up the largest share of the total, with 1.04 million travelers recorded on international flights. This figure reflects both arrivals and departures and corresponds with the continued expansion of the tourism industry. In addition, 341,782 passengers traveled by seaplane, while 242,104 passengers used domestic flights, numbers MACL attributes to expanded operations and increased resort-bound traffic.
Flight movement statistics show that VIA recorded 48,966 air traffic movements during the quarter. As the world’s largest seaplane hub, VIA logged 36,295 seaplane movements. International flights accounted for 6,714 movements, while domestic flights recorded 5,957.
The highest passenger throughput of the quarter was registered on 17 April 2026, when VIA served 18,924 passengers in a single day, the highest ever recorded at the airport. A week later, on 12 April 2026, the seaplane network set its own record, transporting 5,707 passengers in one day.
VIA’s ability to accommodate such high passenger volumes is supported by its newly developed passenger terminal. The terminal spans 78,000 square meters and has the capacity to handle 7.5 million passengers annually. Opened in July last year, the facility has expanded operational space and significantly improved passenger services with modern amenities and streamlined access. MACL is currently working to complete the remaining components of the terminal and relocate the remaining airlines to the new building.
