While the Maldives is known for being a luxury vacation destination, the fun doesn’t really start until you get to your resort, as Velana International Airport (MLE) is kind of a mess.
The current terminal was designed to accommodate just one million passengers per year, while current passenger numbers are way more than that (between departures and arrivals, the airport currently sees roughly four million international travelers per year).
Fortunately that’s expected to change, as an impressive new terminal has been under construction for some time… when will it actually open, though?
In this post:
Velana International Airport’s new terminal plans
Male Airport is expected to get a new passenger terminal, which will fully replace the existing terminal. The new terminal is expected to have the capacity to handle over seven million passengers per year, representing a massive expansion over the existing facility. The terminal will be 78,000 square meters (around 840,000 square feet), located to the south of the existing facility.
It’s not just the increased capacity that’s exciting, but also the passenger experience. The existing terminal almost feels like a bus depot, and by comparison, the new terminal should be much more competitive. The new terminal will have actual contact gates (rather than exclusively using remote stands), more immigration counters, an updated baggage system, and more.
The new terminal is also expected to feature new lounges. I haven’t actually seen details on what those new lounges will look like, so does anyone happen to which companies have been contracted for that?
It would be awesome if there were multiple lounges, and maybe even some airline-run ones (like for Emirates), but I’m not holding my breath. Going back a couple of years, Beond Airlines executives claimed the airline would have a dedicated lounge in the new terminal, so let’s see if that ends up being the case.
When will the airport’s new terminal actually open?
Construction on the new terminal at Male Airport started all the way back in 2016, so the airport has been under construction for nearly a decade now. What’s so funny is that every time I travel through the Maldives, word on the street seems to be that the new terminal will be opening imminently, the same year.
When I visited the Maldives in early 2022, those working at the airport were all telling me the new terminal would open later in the year. When I visited the Maldives in the middle of 2024 (well, just to fly Beond Airlines), the common wisdom seemed to be that the terminal would be opening the same year.
I don’t have plans to travel to the Maldives anytime soon, but for whatever reason, this project came to mind, and I wanted to check on the latest status. So, what are they saying about the new airport now?
In February 2025, during his Presidential Address, Mohamed Muizzu announced that the new terminal would be inaugurated by October 2025. So that’s just five months from now. Interestingly, a couple of months ago there was a promotional video of the president touring the new terminal, and if you ask me, that timeline seems unrealistic.
Don’t get me wrong, if construction were happening like it does in China, that would of course be totally possible. But given the pace at which this project has been moving (more Berlin Brandenburg than China), I remain a little skeptical.
Personally I’m not very optimistic that the “later this year” timeline now is any more accurate than the “later this year” timeline I heard in 2022, or 2024, or…
Bottom line
A game changing new terminal is planned for Male’s Velana International Airport (MLE). This will massively expand the airport’s capacity, while also offering an improved passenger experience, with better lounges, contact gates, etc.
The big question mark is when the terminal will actually open. The country claims the new terminal will open by October 2025, but I’m not so confident. I guess we’ll find out soon enough!
What do you make of Male Airport’s new terminal?
Excellent news. A new airport terminal in a location that is completely free of genocidal, war mongering Israelis.
Save it for the cross-burning, Adolf.
Pete, one is minded to believe that the BZ is nothing less than a Palestinian Hamas terrorist, a Bot, or, mindless terrorist sympathiser. One is probably best advised to ignore the gross ignorance of such.
Writing this comment from the great room (st regis lounge) sea plane terminal. The staff believes that the new terminal would not open at least till next year.
When I went through MLE in February to and from a Maldivian resort, it looked like much work still needed to be done. The building including installed PBBs looked complete, but ramp and landside looked pretty much the same last year.
Lol. Given the current speed and state of construction, this will be finished in late 2028.
Small typo, Lucky - should be five months - "....the new terminal would be inaugurated by October 2025. So that’s just five minutes from now." Thanks for the update. Seems like it'll never happen.
Minutes works too…..
@ Abidjan -- Whoops, thank you!
Antisemites
Given you are an antisemite for being saddened by the death of tens of thousands of children that term has become utterly meaningless
One is unsure what is going on between Dan and SG, however, one is minded to add a little oil to the rough waters.
This week it has been widely reported that the Palestinian Hamas terrorist have probably killed more Palestinian babies (by stealing food aid and selling it to finance terrorist activities) than the IDF.
Food for thought (pun intended) for those who bat for either side in the ongoing conflict.
Not to get political here, but "widely reported" is just Israel saying it without providing evidence. Yet wasn't it Israel the one blocking humanitarian aid from coming in? And saying they will control 75% of Gaza in two months?
Absolutely JATL, likewise not wishing to get political here, but seriously, isn’t it Palestinian Hamas terrorists who are complaining that they have not been paid for several months because Israel is stopping then from stealing the aid from the mouths of Palestinian babies?
JATL, “Hamas fighters ‘not paid for three months’ because of Israeli aid block
Al-Qassam brigades have not been paid since about February, ‘sparking resentment among employees’.” The subject article was published in The Telegraph, on 24th of May, 2025. I could publish the website link but it is doubtful if you can open it without a subscription.
@AeroB13a - here you go, no subscription needed: https://www.yahoo.com/news/hamas-fighters-not-paid-three-182824678.html
Obliged to you Jallan.
According to the Hamas health department, who are quite happy to use photos of children dying from cancer as “proof” that there is mass starvation in Gaza. I hear the word “gullible” isn’t in the dictionary. Could you check for me?
From the river to the sea, SG to the ICC!