Malé International Airport: A Growing Hub with Some Growing Pains

I've been to the Maldives multiple times, so I'm pretty familiar with this airport. In fact, I've even spent the night here a few times, just waiting for my transfer in the morning since some hotels don't pick up guests at night. It's surreal to see the airport empty out at night, only to come alive with staff and activity by morning.

Malé International Airport reviewsMaldives will always be my top travel destination - I'm already planning my next trip. But I have to admit, it's not exactly my cup of tea to see the local islands or capital getting developed. The skyscrapers and infrastructure just don't mesh with the island vibe, you know? That being said, I think the airport expansion is a great idea. It's a bit cramped in here, though. Malé International Airport reviews The last time I was here, I noticed they're working on some major renovations - it's going to be a massive airport soon. Maldives Airport is literally in the middle of the ocean, and I want to show you what it's like inside, including the Duty Free shops and share my thoughts on this departure point to any island paradise. Malé International Airport reviewsMalé International Airport description:

Malé International Airport (previously known as Malé International Airport and Hulhulé Airport) (IATA: MLE, ICAO: VRMM) is located on the island of Hulhulé, adjacent to the capital city Malé. It's the country's largest airport and the only international one (Gan Airport will become the second after reconstruction). What's unique about this airport is that it's situated on a long, narrow island, with the runway literally starting and ending in the water. The airport was opened on 19 October 1960. The first runway (914 x 22 meters) was paved with steel sheets. In May 1964, the Maldivian government decided to replace the surface with asphalt. Removing the old surface was done by four local groups competing for a 1000 Maldivian rufiyaa prize. The new runway was opened on 12 April 1966.[1]

11 November 1981, the airport was officially opened under the name 'Malé International Airport'.

26 July 2011, the airport was officially renamed 'Malé International Airport Ibrahim Nasir' in memory of Ibrahim Nasir, the second President of the Maldives, who initiated the airport's construction in 1960.

Maldives International Airport Reviews I've flown into Velana Airport, the international and domestic airport in the Maldives that's also formerly known as Ibrahim Nasir International Airport. It's got multiple zones for arrivals and check-in. From here, you can take off to all the major airports within the country, as well as international flights. Compared to many other countries, the airport is relatively small and open, which I guess is because there's no real need for climate control here. I never really thought about it before, but as I've gotten older, I've started to appreciate how different it feels. Maldives International Airport ReviewsOne of the first things you notice when you step off the plane is the heat and humidity. It's the same when you're heading back home - it's just a bit of a shock after being in the air-conditioned cabin. But the moment you step out, you start to feel like you're in the Maldives, and that's a pretty amazing feeling. Plus, you can already see the incredible water from here, even if it's not quite as stunning as it will be when you get to the beach.

International Airport Maldives Reviews As I walked up to the dock where most of the boats were anchored, I could already feel the excitement building up. You can take in the breathtaking views of the water and get a sense that the adventure has just begun. Maldives International Airport Reviews On my last trip, we didn't spend much time at the airport since I was blown away by the long queues in this place. We ended up waiting in line for over 3 hours to check in for our flight, which was a real bummer since I had planned to spend that time exploring the Duty Free area, browsing the shops, and buying some souvenirs. It was a wild ride, to say the least. But, we still managed to grab a few things to take back home. If you're a solo traveler without a guided tour, it's best to allocate extra time for check-in if you want to buy something at the airport or don't want to stress about your time. Velana International Airport Maldives Reviews Velana International Airport Maldives Reviews Maldives International Airport Reviews Free Wi-Fi

One of the best things about this airport is the free Wi-Fi that's available in both the arrival and departure areas. You can easily connect to the internet as soon as you arrive, which is a huge relief since I used to struggle with internet connectivity in the past. It's a great way to stay connected with your loved ones, check in for your flight, or simply browse the internet while you wait.

Maldives International Airport MLE Hulhule Maldives Maldives International Airport MLE - Hulhule Ibrahim Nasir International Airport Whether you're waiting in line or sitting in the café, having access to the internet makes a huge difference. You can easily stay in touch with your loved ones, let them know that you've arrived safely, and even grab a bite to eat while you wait. It's a small but important detail that can make a big difference in your travel experience.

Velana International Airport ReviewsI've noticed the airport is getting busier, and I can see construction work underway, even though it still looks a bit dated. The expansion will likely do it a world of good, though – the new international queue is spacious and modern. However, most of the airport I saw is still pretty much the same as it was 10-15 years ago, with the exception of the larger crowds of tourists.

Velana International Airport ReviewsAs with any airport, there are plenty of security checks – passport control, luggage screening, and so on. But what struck me was how much time these procedures took up compared to other airports. Virtually everywhere, there were long queues, and people were waiting for hours. We were exhausted by the time we reached the front of the line, despite getting a good night's sleep before our trip. It's especially heart-wrenching to see how hard it is on young kids. Still, not everyone has the option to buy priority boarding in business class.

Velana International AirportVelana International Airport PhotosThere are loads of free baggage carts available at the airport, which is super convenient.

Velana International Airport ReviewsVelana International Airport ReviewsThe airport is a two-level affair, with escalators connecting the two.

Velana International Airport ReviewsAnd, of course, you can already see the ocean from the airport.

Maldives International Airport reviewsMaldives International Airport reviewsMaldives International Airport reviewsOne thing that struck me as I walked through the airport was the sheer amount of representation from various hotels and airlines. It's just like any other airport, with people rushing to catch their flights, lugging their luggage, and searching for their representatives - it's chaos, but in a good way 😊 Maldives International Airport reviewsMaldives International Airport reviewsMaldives International Airport reviewsMaldives International Airport reviewsThere are a few shops in the baggage claim area where you can grab a snack, charge your phone, or pick up some souvenirs.

Maldives International Airport reviewsThe airport has a pretty decent shopping area, a food court, and even a comfortable toilet with some nice shower facilities. I didn't take a photo, but it's got everything you need after a long flight, especially if you've just arrived on a long-haul.

Maldives International Airport reviewsMaldives International Airport reviewsIf you're looking for the airport's online departures board and flight schedule:

International Airport Maldives reviewsAs I made my way out of the arrivals and departures area, after clearing security and customs, I found myself in the waiting area for boarding. That's where you'll also find the food court and duty-free shops. I didn't get to spend as much time as I'd have liked here because before I knew it, three hours had passed and we were still waiting in line. I managed to snap a few photos, though:

Velana International Airport MLE Airport reviews Velana Airport reviewsI needed to pick up some souvenirs here because on the resort islands we were staying on, the souvenir shops charged way more than they did in the airport. We deliberately avoided buying any souvenirs at the hotel. And our hotel didn't offer any excursions to the local islands, of course. If you're staying on a local island, it makes sense to buy your souvenirs there - they're cheaper and you've got a much wider selection. There's no point in paying more for them in the airport.

Velana International Airport MLE Airport reviewsThe souvenir shop here is huge, and we managed to find everything we needed. We were looking for some Maldivian sand-filled gifts because we'd promised to bring some back. And you can pretty much find everything you need here.

Velana International Airport Velana International AirportThey sell all sorts of things in the souvenir shop - plates, frames, jewelry, magnets, maps, flags.

International Airport Ibrahim Nasir reviews Male International Airport (MLE) reviewsCurrency is in dollars, and only international cards or local currency are accepted, unfortunately, Russian cards aren't working everywhere in the country right now.

Male International Airport (MLE) reviewsWe rushed to the gate as soon as we finished shopping because the boarding announcements were starting, and we didn't want to miss our flight 😊 Maldives International Airport reviewsThe initial and starting point of our Maldives trip this time was a bit rushed, we didn't really get a chance to explore the airport, but that's just how some trips go – sometimes too much time, sometimes not enough. If you need to grab some duty-free shopping in the Maldives, it's a good idea to have at least 5 hours to spare. We prioritized spending more time on the islands and enjoying our stay, and just stopped by the airport to get things done quickly. The airport itself is nice, I like the vibe of it growing and improving, but the huge, long queues are a real challenge, even for adults. Forget about kids – it's a nightmare. Some parents were carrying their little ones in special stroller bags, which I think is a genius idea. Our luggage took 20 minutes to arrive one time, and 60 minutes the next, so it's hard to predict. Hopefully, these issues will be addressed with the airport expansion. Otherwise, everything else was fine, nothing out of the ordinary.

Maldives International Airport reviewsPros:

MaldivesDuty freeGift shopsThe airport is being expanded and renovatedThe restrooms are spacious and have a showerThere's free Wi-Fi in every zoneThere's a food court

Maldives International Airport reviewsCons:

Huge queuesLong wait timesThe security staff can be a bit arrogantLuggage can take a while to arrive

International Airport in Maldives Reviews Thanks for reading! Want more travel and relaxation content? Check out my hotel reviews - the good and the bad here Learn more about countries and cities here I've got loads of reviews about travel and cool spots - you can read them here Got questions? Hit me up and I'll do my best to help!