Tourism Growth Drives Surge in International Flights and Aviation Revenue

The Maldives has experienced a notable rise in international air traffic and tourist arrivals in the early months of 2025, according to the latest data released by the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA).

Scheduled international flights increased by 6.4 percent between January and April, with 5,809 flights recorded during the period compared to 5,378 in the same timeframe last year. This expansion in connectivity has played a significant role in supporting the country’s growing tourism sector, which welcomed more than 800,000 visitors in the first four months of the year. The figure marks a substantial increase from the 700,000 arrivals recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.

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The Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), which oversees operations at Velana International Airport (VIA), reported a profit of USD 64.86 million for the year 2024. This represents an 18 percent increase from the previous year, with the additional revenue of approximately USD 12.46 million attributed to the broader recovery in travel and tourism.

While commercial air travel saw strong gains, the number of general aviation flights declined modestly. The MMA report noted 555 non-commercial flights arriving in the country during the first four months of 2025, down from 604 in the same period last year.

Despite the dip in general aviation, development within the tourism sector continued, with operational bed capacity increasing to 61,919. This reflects a 0.8 percent growth in accommodation infrastructure compared to the previous year.

The continued rise in tourist arrivals and air traffic has reinforced the aviation sector’s role in the Maldivian economy, underlining the positive momentum in travel demand and infrastructure development.