Velana International Airport in Male Announces New Domestic Terminal and Future LCC Terminal Plans

Velana International Airport (MLE) in Male is set to significantly expand its capacity with the opening of a new domestic terminal this year and plans for an additional terminal dedicated to low-cost carriers (LCCs). Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, during a public presentation in Male last week, outlined these developments as part of the airport’s long-term expansion strategy.

The upcoming domestic terminal is designed to handle up to 7.3 million passengers annually, a substantial increase from the current capacity. It will be equipped to manage 2,000 passengers per hour, compared to the 300 per hour capacity of the existing domestic terminal. In 2022, MLE reported handling a total of 4.3 million passengers, with a significant majority being international travelers.

Additionally, MLE has plans for a dedicated LCC terminal, aimed at accommodating 1,000 passengers per hour. However, the timeline for the LCC terminal has not been specified.

The expansion project also includes enhancing the airport’s fuel farm capacity from 15 million liters to 45 million liters and constructing a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility that meets European Union Aviation Safety Agency standards.

President Muizzu envisions a future where MLE can handle up to 25 million passengers annually, marking a more than fivefold increase from the current levels. This ambitious goal is set to be achieved within the next 20 years, positioning Velana International Airport as a major aviation hub in the region.

These developments at MLE reflect the growing importance of the Maldives as a global tourism destination and the need for enhanced airport infrastructure to support this growth. The new domestic terminal and the planned LCC terminal are crucial steps in accommodating the increasing passenger traffic and diversifying the airport’s service offerings to cater to various traveler segments.