What’s in for a travel destination if it is not easily accessible? Desolation. Hence, Maldives frisked its hands in the air to fabricate a mesh of air connectivity around it. Maldives now stands as a beautiful tourist destination well connected to nations across the world. Figments of dropping over the islands far off from mainstream land, bosomed in the vast coy waters of the Indian Ocean, were dreams years ago; not anymore! Catch a flight to Maldives, doesn’t matter where you live, and zap into the aerial ambit of its exquisite beauty. And as you fly over the idyllic islands, you’ll thank the airline for the breathtaking aerial panorama of Maldives. Let us gratify your craving with a sneak-peak to the beautiful holistic sight.

- courtesy Nattu

This goes as a dedication to the airports in Maldives, which make arrival to and departure from Maldives a matter of hours.

The atolls of the Maldives, spread over roughly 90,000 sq. kms., have five airports to facilitate transportation to/from and within the country. One of these airports is an international airport and manages all the connections with foreign territories.

Male’ International Airport

Located on the island of Hulhule, this is the main airport in the Republic of Maldives and the nearest one to the capital city of Male’. Due to limited area, the runway looks straight out over the water. The airport facility was inaugurated, in 1966, with the name “Hulhule Airport”. After some overhauling and expansion took place, the airport was renamed and reopened in 1981 as “Male’ International Airport”. The IATA (International Airport Association) code of this airport is MLE and the airport is run by Male Airports Company Limited.

Male’ International Airport operates with airline services like Oman Air, Air India, Malaysian Airlines, British Airways, Air Berlin, Condor, Edelweiss, Alitalia, Emirates Airlines, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Czech Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Sri Lankan Airlines which serve destinations, among others, such as like Colombo [Sri Lanka], Dubai [United Arab Emirates], Thiruvananthapuram [India] and Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia] to and from the Male’ airport of Maldives. Sri Lankan Airlines is involved with the most number of flights – about 23 flights per week. It also operates some domestic flights from the northern and southern atolls.

Besides air traffic services, the Male’ airport also serves conventional safety functions which include fire and rescue services and aviation security services. The in-flight catering service is owned by this airport and is in association with the nearby Hulhule Island Hotel. You can enjoy simple meals and refreshments at the airport restaurant. There are money changing facilities and a number of duty free shops offering a wide range of items. The capital city of Male’ is connected with a round-the-clock ferry service. Airline Counters are open only during flight times and formalities of departure are quite minimal and unstrained.

Gan International Airport

It is one of the most important transportation gateways in Maldives. Situated in the Addu Atoll (the southern tip of Male’), this airport was built by the British Royal Navy.  Until the 1970s, it was used as a military airbase. Later, it was handed over to the Maldivian Government. Since then, it is used as a domestic airport. It is identified as GAN by the IATA code.

Gan International Airport has one runway which is 8694ft long and 148 feet wide. It has a concrete surface and is designated 10/28.  Blue panorama and Maldivian are the two Airline Services presently operating with this airport. A few charter airplanes from some European and Asian nations also make their call here, in order to transport guests visiting a couple of resorts in the vicinity of the airport.

Looking at the number of tourist resorts coming around, this airport has been lately aesthetically refurbished to international standards and has been prepared for international flights. The internationalization is aimed to serve the southern tourism zone of Addu and Huvadhu Atoll. When complete, you can travel from the airport to the resorts by seaplanes. After that, you can arrive at the final destination by speedboat or “Dhoni”. Gan International airport is pretty useful if you choose to travel to most of the southern atolls. Recently, initiatives have been taken for privatization of this airport in order to improve its management and functioning.

Hanimaadhoo Airport

This airport resides on the island of Hanimaadhoo (Haa Dhaalu atoll). It is based 4 feet above the mean sea level with asphalt surface, which is the same with the surface of Male’ International Airport. Currently, it operates with the airline services of Maldivian.

Kaadedhdhoo Airport

Based on the Kadedhdhoo Island (Gaafu Dhaalu atoll), this domestic airport serves a great deal to the residents in Huvadhoo Atoll. During bad weather conditions, it receives highly useful emergency aero planes, which benefit many people. In was opened in 1993 by president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom and now it operates with Maldivian.

Kadhdhoo Airport

It is based on the island of Kadhdhoo (Laamu Atoll) and is 3.7 km away from Fonadhoo. Fonadhoo is the capital city of Laamu Atoll. Kadhdhoo Airport serves Maldivian airlines.

Maldives has undergone many economic overhauling and developments, so have the infrastructural facilities. The airports in Maldives have been built and revived with time to develop gilt-edged looks and services. You will, now, be served with diligence and superior quality to your convenience.

Important Fact: Maldives Airports Company got the CQE Century International Quality ERA Award which was held in Geneva on March 28th 2010

With neat service and a commitment so rooted, the air service in Maldives is bound to prosper and develop further to better specifications in the coming times. After all, all one needs for a pleasant experience, to a pleasing tourist destination, is comfort and sophisticated service; the airlines and airports in Maldives gratify you with adequate amounts of it.