Airport operators have revealed 39 private jets have landed in the Maldives since reopening of borders on July 15.
Operator of Velana International Airport (VIA), Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), said 30 jets have landed at the airport with tourists since July 15. MACL said this is a relatively low figure when compared to same period in previous years. However, the state-owned company said the figure is expected to rise in the coming months as the number of tourist arrivals pick up.
Besides VIA, the only other airport permitted to land private jets in the Maldives is Maafaru International Airport. Operator of Maafaru Airport, Island Aviation Services Limited (IASL) revealed 9 jets have landed in the airport since July 15. IASL said 89 tourists arrived in the country on the nine jets.
Maafaru Airport commenced operations in December 2019. The airport was developed to cater for Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 jets, which are commonly used in international flight operations. The airport has a 2,200-metre runway, which is the third longest runway in the Maldives behind Gan International Airport and VIA.