The Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has reported that more than 4.1 million passengers used Velana International Airport (VIA) in the first six months of this year, a 4 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024.

According to MACL data, over 4.1 million passengers travelled through VIA between January and June 2025. Of these, 2.69 million were international passengers, 579,079 travelled on domestic routes, and 859,797 used seaplane services.

The highest daily passenger count so far this year was recorded on 4 January, with 26,658 travellers passing through the airport. For seaplane services, the busiest day was 16 February, when 7,439 passengers were carried.

Air traffic movements rose by 7 per cent year-on-year in the first half of 2025, reaching a total of 124,665. This comprised 17,614 international flight movements, 14,110 domestic movements, and 92,941 seaplane movements.

Cargo volumes also saw growth, with 34,000 tonnes cleared in the first half of the year, a 6 per cent increase over the same period last year.

The surge in traffic comes as VIA’s newly opened passenger terminal, inaugurated last month, began operations. The facility has the capacity to handle up to seven million passengers annually, enhancing the airport’s role as a key hub in the region.