Velana International Airport recorded strong growth in both passenger traffic and aircraft movements in 2025, reflecting continued pressure on the Maldives’ primary aviation gateway amid sustained tourism demand and expanding domestic connectivity.
According to the figures released, the airport handled a total of 8.28 million passengers during the year, representing a 7 percent increase compared to the previous year. International passengers accounted for 5.38 million, while 1.17 millionpassengers travelled on domestic flights. Seaplane operations continued to play a significant role in the country’s aviation ecosystem, carrying 1.73 million passengers over the year.
Aircraft activity at the airport also increased. Total air traffic movements reached 249,214, marking an 8 percent riseyear-on-year. Of these, 34,868 movements were international flights, 28,348 were domestic services, and 185,998 movements were attributed to seaplane operations, underlining the scale of resort-related transfers handled through the Velana airspace.
The data also highlights peak pressure points within the year. The highest daily passenger throughput for wheel-based aircraft was recorded on 28 December 2025, when 27,381 passengers passed through the airport in a single day. Seaplane operations reached their highest daily passenger count on 16 February 2025, with 7,439 passengers, coinciding with the height of the tourism high season.
The figures point to the growing complexity of managing international, domestic and seaplane traffic through a single aviation hub, particularly as passenger volumes continue to rise. The sustained increase in movements and passenger numbers places renewed focus on capacity management, infrastructure readiness and the pace at which airport development keeps up with demand.
