Velana International Airport

Velana International Airport
ވެލާނާ ބައިނަލްއަޤުވާމީ ވައިގެ ބަނދަރު
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner Government of Maldives
Operator Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL)[1]
Serves Malé
Location Hulhulé, Malé
Hub for
Elevation AMSL 6 ft / 2 m
Coordinates 04°11′30″N 073°31′44″E / 4.19167°N 73.52889°E / 4.19167; 73.52889Coordinates: 04°11′30″N 073°31′44″E / 4.19167°N 73.52889°E / 4.19167; 73.52889
Website macl.aero
Map
MLE

Location in Maldives

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
18/36 3,200 10,499 Asphalt
NR/SL 1,190 3,904 Water
NC/SC 1,100 3,609 Water
NL/SR 1,000 3,281 Water
E/W 800 2,625 Water

Velana International Airport (IATA: MLE, ICAO: VRMM) (Maldivian: ވެލާނާ ބައިނަލްއަޤުވާމީ ވައިގެ ބަނދަރު), also known as Malé International Airport, previously known as Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, is the main international airport in the Maldives. It is located on Hulhulé Island in the North Malé Atoll, nearby the capital island Malé. Today, the airport is well connected with major airports around the world, mostly serving as the main gateway into the Maldives for tourists. It is managed financially and administratively by an independent corporate entity known as Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).

History

Hulhulé Airport

The airport first started out as a small strip of land on the then inhabited island of Hulhulé. Hulhulé Airport was opened on 19 October 1960. The first runway built on Hulhulé Island was made of slotted steel sheets. The dimensions of this runway were 75 ft × 3,000 ft (23 m × 914 m). The first aircraft which landed at the airport was a Royal New Zealand Air Force Transport plane on 19 October 1960 at 13:55hrs. The first commercial flight was an Air Ceylon flight (4R0ACJ) landed on this runway was at 15:50hrs on 10 April 1962. The first aircraft owned by the Maldives landed on the runway of the Hulhulé Airport on 9 October 1974.[5]

In May 1964 the government and the people of Malé worked together to construct a new asphalt runway. The four districts of Malé competed for the prize money of 1,000 rufiyaa, awarded to the fastest district. On the first day 108 volunteers were enlisted for the project and 1,563.08 rufiya was donated. The new runway was opened on 12 April 1966 at 16:00 by President Ibrahim Nasir.[5]

Upgrade to Malé International Airport

When the tourism boom in the Maldives began in 1972, the country was in need of an international standard airport to transport international tourists to the resort islands. So, on 11 November 1981, the airport was officially inaugurated under a new name of "Malé International Airport".

Maldives Airports Company Ltd (MACL) was formed on 1 January 1994 to operate and manage the Male' International Airport. MACL is governed by the board of directors appointed by the President of the Maldives.[6]

Privatisation of the airport

In 2010, the Nasheed administration appointed IFC to run a bidding process for the privatisation of the airport. The bid was won by a consortium between GMR Group and Malaysia Airports who provided Rufiyaa 1 Billion[7] as upfront fee to the government for the expansion and modernisation of the airport by 2014, and its operation for 25 years.

By the end of the year, MACL officially handed over the aerodrome license of the airport to the newly formed GMR Malé International Airport Ltd (GMIAL).[8][9] GMIAL announced that the development plans included reclaiming more land at the eastern end of the runway; where a new terminal is to be built. This terminal would consist of 3 separate bridged buildings. Plans for a separate cargo terminal was also announced. However, the project faced numerous delays.[10]

On 26 July 2011, Malé International Airport was officially renamed as the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport in memory of Ibrahim Nasir, the 2nd President of the Maldives and the founder of the airport.

In late 2012, the new government of Maldives under the Waheed administration declared that the concession agreement was void ab initio and on 27 November 2012 gave GMIAL a deadline of 7 days to 'evict the airport',[11][12] a decision which drew mass protests from the government's opposition, as well as criticism from the government and media of India.[13][14] On 7 December, GMR handed over the airport to the government, and MACL was reinstated as the operator.[15]

On 1 January 2017, the airport was rebranded as Velana International Airport, referring to the family house name of President Ibrahim Nasir. The rebranding is part of a strategic plan in aligning the airport with the economic vision of the Yameen administration.[16]

Facilities

The airport resides at an elevation of 6 feet (2 m) above mean sea level. It has one asphalt runway designated 18/36 measuring 45 m × 3,200 m (148 ft × 10,499 ft).[2] The adjacent waterdrome which serves the large seaplane operations at Velana has 4 water runways, designated NR/SL, NC/SC, NL/SR and E/W, measuring 60 m × 1,190 m (200 ft × 3,900 ft), 60 m × 1,100 m (200 ft × 3,610 ft), 60 m × 1,000 m (200 ft × 3,280 ft) and 60 m × 800 m (200 ft × 2,620 ft) respectively.[17] Runway NL is takeoff only and runway SR is landing only due to proximities with flying restricted areas.

The airport has 3 terminals. They are the International Terminal, the Domestic Terminal and the waterdrome Seaplane Terminal.

The airport includes the corporate headquarters of Trans Maldivian Airways.[18]

Airlines and destinations

The seaplane terminal
A Trans Maldivian Airways DHC-6 Twin Otter
An aircraft on approach to the runway
Malé International Airport after the tsunami hit the Maldives
AirlinesDestinations
Aeroflot Moscow–Sheremetyevo
AirAsia Kuala Lumpur–International
Air France Paris–Charles de Gaulle (begins 1 November 2017)[19]
Air India Bangalore, Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram
Alitalia Seasonal: Rome–Fiumicino (begins 31 October 2017)[20]
Austrian Airlines Seasonal: Vienna
Bangkok Airways Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi
Beijing Capital Airlines Beijing–Capital
British Airways Seasonal: London–Gatwick
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong
China Eastern Airlines Colombo, Kunming, Shanghai–Pudong
China Southern Airlines Colombo (begins 26 September 2017),[21] Guangzhou
Condor Frankfurt
Edelweiss Air Seasonal: Zürich
Emirates Colombo, Dubai–International
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi
flydubai Colombo, Dubai–International
flyme Dharavandhoo, Maamigili
Korean Air Colombo
Lufthansa
operated by Lufthansa CityLine 		Seasonal: Frankfurt
Maldivian Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Changsha, Chengdu, Chennai, Chongqing, Colombo–Ratmalana, Dhaka, Dharavandhoo, Fuvahmulah, Fuzhou, Gan, Hanimaadhoo, Kaadedhdhoo, Kadhdhoo, Kooddoo, Maalifushi, Manafaru, Nanjing, Thimarafushi, Thiruvananthapuram, Wuhan, Xi'an
Meridiana Seasonal: Rome–Fiumicino, Milan–Malpensa
Neos Seasonal: Milan–Malpensa, Rome–Fiumicino, Verona–Villafranca
Qatar Airways Doha
Saudia Riyadh
Scoot Singapore
Shanghai Airlines Seasonal: Shanghai–Pudong
Sichuan Airlines Chengdu
SilkAir Singapore
Singapore Airlines Singapore
SpicejetKochi, Thiruvananthapuram[22]
SriLankan Airlines Colombo
Thai AirAsia Bangkok–Don Mueang
Trans Maldivian Airways Dholhiyadhoo, Vagaru, Kudafunafaru, Iru Fushi, Maavelavaru, Orimasvaru, Randheli, Meedhupparu, Dhunikolhu, Fonimagoodhoo, Kihivah Huravalhi, Kunfunadhoo, Landaa Giraavaru, Mudhdhoo, Kanifushi, Kanuhura, Kuredhdhoo, Komadhoo, Madhiriguraidhoo, Biyadhoo, Helengeli, Kuda Huraa, Medhufinolhu, Meerufenfushi, Veligandu Huraa, Ziyaaraifushi, Bathala, Ellaidhoo, Ethere Madivaru, Fesdhoo, Gangehi, Halaveli, Kandholhudhoo, Kudafolhudhoo, Kuramathi, Maayafushi, Madoogali, Mushimasgali, Velidhoo, Veligandu, Angaga, Athuruga, Dhidhdhoofinolhu, Huvahendhoo, Kudarah, Maafushivaru, Machchafushi, Mirihi, Moofushi, Rangali, Thudufushi, Vakarufalhi, Vilamendhoo, Vilingilivaru, Alimatha, Dhiggiri, Medhufushi, Hakuraa Huraa, Filitheyo, Maafushi, Meedhuffushi, Olhuveli, Velavaru
Turkish Airlines Istanbul–Atatürk

Statistics

As of December 2016, SriLankan Airlines is the largest foreign carrier into the Maldives with over 35 flights a week. Bandaranaike International Airport is the most common direct stop out of the Maldives as it is served by SriLankan Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Emirates, flydubai, and Korean Air who operate a combined total of up to 12 flights daily between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Incidents and accidents

See also

References

  1. ↑ "There will be major changes to MACL: Nazim". Haveeru Daily. 8 December 2012. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  2. 1 2 Airport information for VRMM from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
  3. ↑ Airport information for MLE at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
  4. ↑ from ICAO (effective June 2014)
  5. 1 2 "ARC". Airports.com.mv. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "Corporate". Airports.com.mv. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  7. ↑ "GMR offers Rf1 billion for Male airport". Haveeru Daily. 24 June 2010. Archived from the original on 28 June 2010.
  8. ↑ "GMR – Press Release". Gmrgroup.in. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  9. ↑ "GMR to take over airport operations after advanced payment". Haveeru Daily. 26 September 2010. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011.
  10. ↑ "President hopes 2011 budget will speed up development projects". Haveeru Daily. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  11. ↑ "Maldives cabinet passes to annul GMR agreement Maldives cabinet passes to annul GMR agreement". Haveeru Daily. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  12. ↑ "MACL will now operate the airport: Finance Minister". Haveeru Daily. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  13. ↑ "India, Maldives Row Over Airport Contract". The Diplomat.
  14. ↑ "India freezes Maldives aid as relations hit an all-time low". Daily Mail.
  15. ↑ "Maldives govt completes take over of airport from GMR". Haveeru Daily. 8 December 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  16. ↑ "Maldives’ main airport renamed ‘Velana International Airport’ | Maldives Independent". maldivesindependent.com. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  17. ↑ "REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER AERODROME OPERATIONS IN THE MALDIVES" (PDF). ICAO. ICAO. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  18. ↑ "Contact." Trans Maldivian Airways. Retrieved on April 21, 2015. "TRANS MALDIVIAN AIRWAYS (Pvt) Ltd. Ibrahim Nasir International Airport P.O. Box 2079 Male’ Republic of Maldives"
  19. ↑ http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/271300/air-france-adds-maldives-service-from-nov-2017/
  20. ↑ http://www.agenparl.com/alitalia-volo-diretto-roma-male-dal-31-ottobre-collegamento-tutta-la-stagione-invernale/
  21. ↑ "China Southern adds Sri Lanka service from Sep 2017". routesonline. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  22. ↑ http://www.spicejet.com/Schedules.aspx
  23. 1 2 3 "Maldives Civil Aviation Authority – 8Q-TMC Collision with Seawall". Aviainfo.gov.mv. Retrieved 21 August 2013.

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