Two private jet operations departing from Male’ were forced to return to Velana International Airport (VIA) today after widespread Middle East airspace closures disrupted their planned routes toward Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. The disruptions follow escalating regional tensions triggered by Israeli strikes, which led several Gulf states to suspend flights and restrict airspace. A VistaJet private jet operating a charter service from Male’ to Košice, Slovakia, initia

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has issued a revised circular confirming that employees who work more than five hours during Ramadan will continue to receive overtime pay, reinstating the long‑standing practice followed in previous years. The move follows strong internal and public backlash to an earlier circular that indicated overtime would not be paid for work exceeding five hours during the holy month. That initial notice marked a clear departure from previous ye

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has announced revised working hour arrangements for Velana International Airport (VIA) during Ramadan 1447 and the first seven days of Shawwal, introducing a shorter daily schedule for administrative staff while significantly changing how overtime pay will be calculated for the wider workforce. Under the new directive, administrative employees will work 4 hours and 30 minutes per day, with official hours set from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm. A

Airlines operating at Velana International Airport (VIA) say they were not given the advance notice required to prepare for the planned relocation of domestic operations to Terminal 2 today. Sources told Aviators Maldives that airlines did not receive clear timelines, operational details, or the standard preparation period normally provided for a terminal change. The information shared before the move was described as minimal, leaving teams with almost no time to organise sta

Velana International Airport (VIA) is preparing to relocate all domestic flight operations to the refurbished Terminal 2, marking a major operational shift under Maldives Airports Company Limited’s (MACL) ongoing airport development program. The move follows structural upgrades and systems integration work to repurpose the former international terminal for domestic passenger handling. Once the transition is activated, all domestic departures and arrivals will move from the ex

Greater Bay Airlines of Hong Kong has begun charter operations to the Maldives, marking another expansion of the country’s air connectivity with East Asia. The airline’s inaugural service, flight HB2500, arrived at Velana International Airport yesterday, where it was welcomed with a traditional water salute. A total of 174 passengers travelled on the first flight. Greater Bay Airlines will operate direct charter flights between Hong Kong and Malé using the Boeing 737 MAX, add

The Maldives recorded 10,253 tourist arrivals on 1 February 2026, setting a new single‑day record for the country’s tourism sector. The figure surpasses the previous high of 10,213 arrivals registered on 10 February 2024, according to official data. The new record follows a strong start to the year, coming just days after the Maldives posted its highest‑ever January arrival total. Tourism authorities say the latest numbers indicate that demand has remained consistently high i

Velana International Airport (VIA) recorded a strong year in 2025, handling 8.28 million passengers, a 7% increase compared to the previous year. The growth reflects continued demand across international, domestic, and seaplane operations, supported by rising tourist arrivals and improved inter‑island connectivity. Of the total passenger volume, 5.38 million were international travellers, underscoring VIA’s role as the Maldives’ primary gateway. Domestic traffic reached 1.17

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) is one of the strongest and most profitable state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the Maldives. Its financial performance, anchored by the operation of Velana International Airport has consistently placed it at the top among SOEs. However, over the course of 2025, MACL embarked on an unusually broad and intensive investment programme aligned with government development priorities. The scale, speed, and diversity of these commitments repres

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has implemented a revised fee structure for vehicles operating inside Velana International Airport (VIA). According to MACL, the new fee structure is based on the COE framework, which requires all vehicles operating within designated airport zones to obtain a COE permit. Under this system, MACL has introduced two categories of fees: 1. Operational Vehicles Standard rate: USD 3,000 per year No discounts available 2. Premium Vehicles Sta