--- iata: MLE name: Velana International Airport city: Malé country: Maldives lastUpdated: '2026-09-07' officialWebsite: 'https://www.macl.aero/' sources: - 'https://www.macl.aero/' - 'https://www.macl.aero/business/lounges' - 'https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/34426' - >- https://standard.mv/velana-international-airport-served-over-8-3-million-passengers-in-2025/ - >- https://mfr.mv/travel-and-tourism/velana-airport-announces-passanger-air-traffic-movements-of-the-first-quarter-of-2026 - 'https://en.mmtv.mv/11586' - 'https://mmmaldives.com/velana-international-airport-terminal-1/' - 'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velana_International_Airport' - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/maldives/ibrahim-nasir-international - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/maldives/ibrahim-nasir-international/mle2-moonimaa-lounge - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/maldives/ibrahim-nasir-international/mle4-huvandhumaa-lounge-new-seaplane-terminal - 'https://maldivesairport.com/lounges/koveli-lounge' - 'https://maldivesairport.com/lounges/moonimaa-lounge' - 'https://maldivesairport.com/transport/taxi-bus' - 'https://www2.immigration.gov.mv/tourist-visa/' - 'https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/' quickFacts: - >- Velana International Airport (IATA MLE / ICAO VRMM) is the Maldives’ primary civil gateway on Hulhulé Island in Kaafu Atoll, adjacent to the capital Malé and linked by the Sinamalé Bridge plus public ferries. Operator is Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), a 100% government-owned company. Passenger / corporate site: macl.aero. Do not confuse MLE with Gan (GAN), Hanimaadhoo (HAQ), or other domestic atoll fields — almost all overseas visitors clear immigration here first. Passenger operations are civilian. - >- Terminals (mid-2026 layout): Terminal 1 is the new international passenger building inaugurated 26 July 2025 (~78,000 m²; published design capacity commonly ~7–7.5M international passengers / year; Presidency release cites 47 check-in desks, 20 departure immigration counters, six boarding gates, 12 aerobridges). The former 1981 international building is now Terminal 2 / Domestic Terminal (Maldivian, Manta Air, Villa Air / FlyMe landplane domestics). Noovilu Seaplane Terminal (opened 6 Oct 2022) sits on the other side of the runway for floatplane resort transfers. No sterile international↔domestic↔seaplane walk — plan landside walks / operator shuttles and re-clearances. - >- Traffic (MACL / press citing MACL): calendar 2025 — 8.28 million passengers (+7% vs 2024) with 5.38M international / 1.17M domestic / 1.73M seaplane, and 294,214 aircraft movements (34,868 international / 28,348 domestic / 185,998 seaplane). Q1 2026 — 2.35M passengers (+4% YoY); Q2 2026 — 1.62M passengers; H1 2026 ≈ 3.97M. Prefer MACL releases over older ~1–1.5M design blurbs for the retired international shell. - >- Single asphalt runway 18/36 ~3,400 × 60 m (Code F capable; elev ~6 ft / 1.8 m). The parallel former runway is a permanent taxiway after the new runway entered scheduled service on 6 Oct 2022. Separate water runways serve the Noovilu seaplane base. Single paved runway + daylight-only seaplanes mean weather and peak banks cascade quickly. - >- Ground: no rail. Public ferry Hulhulé↔Malé (~10 min; commonly ~MVR 15 / ~USD 1; frequent daytime / reduced overnight — confirm MTCC boards). Government taxi table (Transport Ministry): Malé MVR 70; Hulhumalé Phase 1 MVR 80; Hulhumalé Phase 2 MVR 85 from Hulhulé (confirm live board — overcharging complaints still appear in local press). MTCC buses R3 (Malé), R4/R9 (Hulhumalé) published from ~MVR 10–15. Most resort guests never leave via public modes — resort / seaplane / speedboat desks meet arrivals in T1. - >- Lounges (Sep 2026): Priority Pass directory lists Moonimaa Lounge (Domestic Terminal / T2 landside, 06:00–23:00, max 2h) and Huvandhumaa Lounge (Noovilu Seaplane Terminal airside, 06:00–17:30, max 2h). Flagship international soft room is Koveli Lounge (T1 mezzanine after security; airline cabin / elite / paid walk-up — not Priority Pass; no alcohol). MACL also markets Maamahi CIP / VIP and other contract / resort rooms — confirm day-of desk, not aggregator pins. bentoTips: - label: Timing title: 'Budget IMUGA + transfer mode, not just check-in' detail: >- Complete the free Traveller Declaration on imuga.immigration.gov.mv within 96 hours of arrival (and again for departure when required). Tourist visas are granted on arrival for eligible travellers when entry requirements are met — IMUGA is not the visa. Seaplane legs are daylight-only; missed afternoon banks become overnight Malé/Hulhumalé hotel problems. Allow 15–20 minutes to walk T1↔T2 with bags if you self-connect domestic, and follow the seaplane operator shuttle to Noovilu rather than walking across the airfield. summary: >- File IMUGA before you fly; know whether your onward leg is seaplane, domestic landplane, or speedboat before you exit immigration. category: timing - label: Terminal title: T1 is international — T2 is domestic — Noovilu is seaplanes detail: >- Ignore stale “one tiny terminal” guides. Since the Jul 2025 inauguration and Feb 2026 domestic consolidation reporting, all scheduled international flights use Terminal 1; land-based domestics use Terminal 2; floatplanes use Noovilu after a landside check-in / shuttle from the T1 side. There is no sterile link. Taxi ranks are concentrated on the T1 side — domestic arrivals often shuttle or walk before finding the main curb. summary: >- Screenshot T1 vs T2 vs Noovilu on your boarding pass and transfer voucher before you clear immigration. category: terminal - label: Food title: No alcohol on Hulhulé — lounge value is shade and soft drinks detail: >- Maldivian rules keep alcohol off inhabited islands including the airport campus, so even Koveli is soft-drink / mocktail only. Priority Pass holders without airline lounge access should use Moonimaa before international check-in (landside, max 2h) or Huvandhumaa only if already at the seaplane terminal. Landside sealed water and a simple meal beat chasing nonexistent PP airside rooms in T1. summary: >- Koveli is entitlement/paid and dry; PP soft rooms are Moonimaa (landside domestic) and Huvandhumaa (seaplane only). category: food - label: Status title: Single runway + seaplane weather = cascading delays detail: >- MACL posted 8.28M passengers and ~294k movements in 2025 with seaplanes making up the majority of movements. Tropical showers, crosswinds, and afternoon thunderstorms delay floatplanes first; the single 18/36 asphalt runway still concentrates international banks. Watch operator SMS / resort WhatsApp more than generic third-party delay apps once you are airside for a transfer. summary: >- H1 2026 already ~4M passengers on one paved runway and daylight seaplanes — build buffers into same-day resort connections. category: status lounges: - name: Koveli Lounge zone: >- Terminal 1 international departures mezzanine after emigration and security — dedicated stairs / lifts from the duty-free / departures hall (traveler and Maldives Airport guides place it above the main concourse near the Gate A precinct). hours: >- Typically ~first morning bank through last evening departure (confirm desk; not a published 24h room) access: - >- Business / First on contracted airlines (commonly BA / Virgin Atlantic and other airline contracts — confirm ticket) - Qualifying airline elite status when the operating carrier grants access - >- Paid walk-up reported ~USD 83 / person subject to space (Maldives Airport guide; confirm desk) - Not Priority Pass / LoungeKey / DragonPass bestFor: - Long-haul Business/First departures from Terminal 1 - Elite passengers whose carrier contracts Koveli summary: >- The real international soft-lounge upgrade in the new T1 — ~1,230 m² / ~270 seats, showers when open, runway views, buffet and soft drinks only. Worth it on cabin/elite access; steep and dry as a walk-up; useless as a Priority Pass plan. verdict: worth-it terminal: Terminal 1 amenities: - Hot / cold buffet (no alcohol — campus is dry) - Showers (ask reception; intermittent closure reports) - Wi-Fi / power / USB - Quiet zone / kids play area / prayer room nearby - Flight information displays - name: Moonimaa Lounge zone: >- Domestic Terminal (Terminal 2) landside — outside and to the right of the main entrance before check-in and security (Priority Pass location text). Accessible for international passengers only before they walk to Terminal 1 check-in. hours: '06:00-23:00' access: - Priority Pass / LoungeKey / DragonPass (confirm live app) - Digital Priority Pass card accepted - Walk-up historically ~USD 40 / 2h (third-party guides — confirm desk) - Children under 3 admitted free on PP conditions - 'Max stay 2 hours; space restrictions common 16:00–18:00' bestFor: - Priority Pass holders still landside before T1 check-in - Domestic passengers waiting landside at Terminal 2 summary: >- The only Priority Pass soft room that works for most international guests — but it is landside at the domestic building, capped at 2 hours, and closes at 23:00. Use it before you commit to T1 security, not after. verdict: depends terminal: Terminal 2 / Domestic amenities: - Air conditioning / Wi-Fi - Soft drinks / snacks (confirm day-of buffet) - Showers - Spa facilities subject to payment and availability - Flight information / newspapers - Disabled access / digital card accepted - name: Huvandhumaa Lounge zone: >- Noovilu / Maldivian Seaplane Terminal — airside after security checks, ground floor (Priority Pass). hours: '06:00-17:30' access: - Priority Pass / LoungeKey / DragonPass (confirm live app) - Maldivian business-class / operator entitlement when issued - Walk-up historically ~USD 44 / 2h (third-party guides — confirm desk) - Children under 3 admitted free on PP conditions - Max stay 2 hours bestFor: - Seaplane resort transfers already checked in at Noovilu - Daylight PP waits aligned with floatplane banks summary: >- Useful only if you are already in the seaplane terminal — complimentary luggage storage and soft drinks help during typical 1–3 hour floatplane waits, but the 17:30 close matches daylight ops and it will not help a T1 long-haul departure. verdict: depends terminal: Noovilu Seaplane Terminal amenities: - Air conditioning / Wi-Fi / soft drinks - Complimentary luggage storage - Flight information / TV - Separate smoking area - Digital card accepted / disabled access - name: Maamahi Executive Lounge zone: >- CIP / VIP product marketed by MACL for Terminal 1 (Level 1 on MACL lounge portfolio) — pre-booked meet-and-assist style, not a walk-up Priority Pass room. hours: '05:30-23:30' access: - Pre-booked CIP / VIP / MACL packages - Resort or airline-arranged meet-and-assist when included - Not Priority Pass bestFor: - Guests whose resort or agency already purchased CIP handling - Travellers who want escorted landside/airside processing summary: >- A paid fast-track / CIP product rather than a casual soft lounge — only worth planning when it is already on your transfer voucher; do not confuse it with Koveli or Moonimaa. verdict: depends terminal: Terminal 1 amenities: - CIP / VIP fast-track and private check-in (package-dependent) - Dedicated vehicle transfer when sold - In-lounge duty-free access on some packages waterOptions: - kind: purchase name: Landside sealed PET (T1 retail / café) zone: landside price: >- Commonly a few USD-equivalent for 500 ml–1 L — confirm shelf tag (MVR or USD) summary: >- Best default hydration plan before emigration: buy sealed water landside in Terminal 1, then clear security. Airside markups and dry-lounge rules are worse value for most guests. location: >- Terminal 1 landside departures retail and café precinct before check-in / security terminal: Terminal 1 isBestValue: true - kind: purchase name: Airside sealed water (T1 duty-free / QSR) zone: airside price: Typically higher than landside — confirm shelf tag summary: >- Acceptable backup once you are past T1 security; grab landside first when the timeline allows. location: >- Terminal 1 airside after passport control along duty-free and pier shops toward the gate mezzanine terminal: Terminal 1 - kind: free name: Koveli Lounge drinks (entitlement / paid) zone: airside summary: >- Soft drinks, water, tea/coffee, and mocktails with Koveli access — no alcohol. Best quality pour when you already hold cabin, elite, or paid entry. location: >- Koveli Lounge mezzanine buffet / beverage stations above Terminal 1 departures terminal: Terminal 1 isBestQuality: true - kind: free name: Moonimaa Lounge drinks (PP / paid) zone: landside summary: >- Soft drinks and lounge water with a Priority Pass or walk-up visit — only before you leave the Domestic Terminal landside area for T1 check-in. location: >- Moonimaa Lounge to the right of the Terminal 2 / Domestic main entrance (landside) terminal: Terminal 2 / Domestic - kind: free name: Huvandhumaa Lounge drinks (PP / entitlement) zone: airside summary: >- Soft drinks and water while waiting on a seaplane bank — irrelevant for pure T1 international departures. location: 'Huvandhumaa Lounge, Noovilu Seaplane Terminal ground floor after security' terminal: Noovilu Seaplane Terminal airportistScore: 6.8 slug: mle region: Asia-Pacific --- > Markdown for [/airports/mle](/airports/mle). Append `.md` to any page URL (or send `Accept: text/markdown`) for an agent-readable copy. - [HTML page](/airports/mle) - [Lounge directory](/airports/mle/lounges.md) - [Sitemap](/sitemap.md) # Velana International Airport (MLE) Malé, Maldives · Asia-Pacific MLE is the Maldives’ reinvented Hulhulé gateway — a strong new Terminal 1 and cheap Malé ferry/taxi access, traded against three disconnected terminals, daylight-only seaplanes, a dry campus, and Priority Pass rooms that sit outside international airside. ## Airportist Score **6.8 / 10** Weighted sum of the six published categories (no holistic fudge). - Ease of use (25%): 6.8 — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout. - Comfort & amenities (20%): 7.2 — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet. - Food & retail (15%): 5.8 — Food and retail quality and variety. - Ground access (15%): 8.0 — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city. - Reliability (15%): 6.0 — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience. - Lounges (10%): 6.5 — Worth-it density and access quality. ## At a glance - Passengers: 8.28M (2025) - Terminals: T1 intl + T2 domestic + Noovilu seaplane - Typical security: 20 min - On-time: 70% - Disruption: minor ## Best for - Resort guests meeting seaplane or speedboat desks in Terminal 1 - Business/First passengers with Koveli lounge access - Guesthouse travellers using the MTCC ferry or fixed-fare taxi into Malé / Hulhumalé - Priority Pass holders who can use Moonimaa landside before T1 check-in ## Watch out for - Assuming Priority Pass works in Terminal 1 airside (it does not — Koveli is entitlement/paid only) - Same-day seaplane connections after late long-haul arrivals (daylight + weather) - Skipping IMUGA and losing 20–40 minutes at arrivals kiosks - Confusing Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Noovilu after the 2025–26 terminal swap ## More intel - [Lounge directory](/airports/mle/lounges.md) (free) - [Getting there](/airports/mle/getting-there.md) (free) - [Amenities](/airports/mle/amenities.md) - [Traveler tips](/airports/mle/tips.md) - [Water](/airports/mle/water.md) - [Full guide](/airports/mle/guide.md) - [Disruptions](/airports/mle/disruptions.md) - [Reviews](/airports/mle/reviews.md)