Velana International Airport, International airport in Hulhulé, Maldives
Velana International Airport is an international airport on Hulhulé Island in Kaafu Atoll, Maldives. The facility comprises separate terminal areas for international flights, domestic connections, and seaplane services, each with dedicated access routes and waiting areas.
Operations began in 1960 with a provisional steel sheet runway measuring 23 meters wide by 914 meters long, which received its first scheduled flight from Sri Lanka in 1962. An asphalt runway was built in 1966 through joint work by the four districts of Malé, enabling more regular international connections.
The facility takes its name from a regional leader and sits on an artificially expanded island connected to a neighboring islet through reclaimed land. Many travelers experience their first direct contact with the tropical island climate and open ocean setting here before departing for their resorts.
Travelers reach most Maldivian resorts by speedboat or seaplane departing from dedicated areas within the facility. Those continuing by seaplane should plan for daylight hours, as these connections operate only in sufficient visibility.
The seaplane terminal handles over 100 aircraft and ranks among the largest facilities of its kind worldwide. During peak season, it operates an almost continuous flight schedule from sunrise to sunset, linking the entire archipelago to the main island.
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