Maafaru International Airport is set to handle up to 800 jet movements by the end of the peak tourist season, as arrivals increase across the country’s northern atolls.
More than 200 jets have already landed at the airport since the start of the season, with numbers expected to rise further in the coming weeks. The airport’s plane parking area has doubled this year, allowing more jets to land compared with previous peak seasons.
Speaking to state media, Mumthaz Ali, General Manager of Maafaru International Airport, said jets have been arriving since 20 December. He added that the number of daily jet movements will increase from 15 to 25 starting next Sunday or Monday. Previously, the airport could park 13 flights at once; the expanded apron now accommodates up to 30 jets simultaneously.
The expansion allows passengers travelling to luxury resorts in Raa and Baa Atolls to land at Maafaru Airport rather than Velana International Airport. Last year, 579 private jets arrived at Maafaru, and the number is expected to rise this season due to the increased parking capacity.
Maafaru Airport, which opened in 2019, has undergone several expansions since its launch. The latest development added space to the apron and was recently opened to operations. Managed by the state-owned airline Island Aviation, the airport was developed with USD 60 million in funding from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and can accommodate aircraft such as the A320 and Boeing 737.
As the second-largest international airport in the Maldives, Maafaru plays a growing role in supporting private jet traffic during the peak tourist season, easing pressure on Velana International Airport.
