Velana International Airport (VIA) handled more than 8.28 million passengers in 2025, recording a seven percent increase compared to the previous year, according to newly released figures from Maldives Airports Company Limited.
The data highlights VIA’s continued role as the Maldives’ primary international gateway, with international travellers accounting for the bulk of passenger traffic. Of the total passengers recorded last year, 5.38 million were international arrivals and departures, reflecting sustained global demand for travel to the Maldives.
Domestic air travel also remained strong, with 1.17 million passengers flying on local routes during the year. In addition, 1.73 million passengers were transported through the country’s extensive seaplane network, which remains the busiest of its kind in the world and a critical link between resorts and outer islands.
Passenger activity reached historic highs on several occasions. The airport experienced its busiest day ever on 28 December 2024, when 27,381 passengers passed through the terminal in a single day. Seaplane operations also saw record movement, peaking on 16 February, when 7,439 passengers were served in one day.
Air traffic movements showed a similar upward trend. A total of 249,214 aircraft movements were recorded in 2025, representing an eight percent increase year-on-year. This figure included 34,868 international flights, 28,348 domestic flights, and 185,998 seaplane operations.
MACL attributed the growth to rising tourist arrivals as well as improvements in inter-island transport connectivity, which have helped support higher passenger volumes across both domestic and resort-bound travel.
The steady rise in passenger numbers and flight activity underscores VIA’s expanding operational capacity and the Maldives’ continued appeal as a global tourism destination. MACL noted that ongoing airport development projects are expected to further boost traffic in the coming years.
