Flying to the Maldives: airlines, domestic flights and seaplanes

Reaching a Maldives resort usually takes two steps: an international flight to Velana International Airport, then a transfer by speedboat, seaplane or domestic flight. This guide explains who flies where, and how the pieces fit together.

Airlines and routes change often. Everything here was checked at the time of writing, but always confirm the details with the airline, or with us when you book.

International airlines

Velana is served by a long and growing list of international airlines. The airport operator, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), publishes the current list in its airline directory. In broad terms, you can reach the Maldives:

• Via the Gulf. Airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and flydubai connect through their hubs, which suits many travellers from Europe and further afield.
• Via Asia. Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, SriLankan Airlines and several Chinese and Indian airlines link the Maldives with Asian hubs.
• Directly from Europe. Some airlines, including British Airways, Turkish Airlines and Edelweiss Air, fly from European cities, some only in certain seasons.
• With Maldivian. The national airline also flies a few international routes in the region.

These are examples, not a complete list. Schedules and seasonal routes change, so check with the airline. If you share your departure city, we can suggest flight times that work with your transfer.

Domestic airlines

Domestic flights link the domestic terminal at Velana with regional airports across the atolls. Resorts in more distant atolls use them, followed by a short speedboat ride. At the time of writing, the main domestic airlines are:

• Maldivian. The national airline, with the widest domestic network.
• Manta Air. Now concentrates on seaplanes. It runs only a few domestic flights and has reportedly been reducing them.
• Villa Air. Formerly Flyme. A smaller airline with a few domestic routes, which also flies seaplanes.

You rarely book these flights yourself. Your resort normally arranges the domestic flight and the speedboat as one transfer. Domestic airlines set their own luggage limits, which can be lower than on your international flight. Our airports guide explains how domestic airports work.

Seaplane operators

Seaplanes take off from the seaplane terminal at Velana and land on the water near your resort, often at a floating platform. At the time of writing, four operators fly seaplane transfers:

• Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA). The largest seaplane operator, flying to many resorts across the atolls.
• Manta Air. Seaplanes are its main business, with scheduled departures to a growing number of resorts.
• Maldivian. The national airline also runs a smaller seaplane service.
• Villa Air. Started seaplane flights in November 2025 and serves a small number of resorts, mainly within its own resort group.

Each resort works with its own operator, so you don't choose the airline. Seaplanes fly only in daylight, and exact departure times are often confirmed close to the day.

How your flights and transfer fit together

Your international flight times decide which transfer options work. A few points help:

• Share your flight times early. Resorts plan seaplanes and domestic flights around them.
• Allow time to connect. Leave a comfortable gap between landing and a domestic flight or seaplane.
• Watch late arrivals. If you land after dark and your resort uses seaplanes, you may need a night near the airport.
• Check luggage limits. Seaplanes and domestic flights usually have stricter limits than international flights.

For the transfer types compared side by side, see our transfers guide.