Male International Airport, Maldives

Malé Airport Maldives

The 1960s saw the creation of the first airport in the Maldives and at this point in time, it consisted only of one slotted steel runway on the island of Hulhulé situated in the North Malé Atoll, close to the capital of the Maldives, Malé city.

In the early seventies Maldives holidays were becoming popular and a new airport was urgently required to accommodate the increasing number of tourists wishing to sample all that the islands had to offer. In 1981 the new airport was officially opened and renamed Malé International Airport.

The airport is quite unique in that there are no road links from Hulhulé and therefore no taxis or buses - all passengers must take a ten minute ferry trip into Malé. This is a very pleasant and unusual way to start a holiday. Sea planes also operate to other Maldivian locations.

Malé International has a full range of facilities for the traveller including the usual selection of duty free and souvenir shops, currency exchanges, Wi-Fi connections, coffee shops and food outlets. In addition, there is a flower shop, a prayer room and a mosque and free shower rooms. For adults with young children there is an outdoor play area, an indoor crèche with trained staff, and baby feeding and changing areas.