Private jet to Malé

The capital of the Maldives occupies a small, densely built island of about 2 km², with no room for a runway, so its airport, Velana International, fills almost the whole of neighbouring Hulhulé. Almost every private flight to the country lands there, whether the passengers are going to a ministry meeting in town, a night at a hotel on Hulhumalé or a resort two atolls away. Along the routes European operators fly, Velana is 8,300 to 9,800 km from the main hubs, about ten hours in a long-range jet without a stop.

This page is about the city and the airport: permits, parking for the aircraft, the arrival through the lounge for private passengers, and the connections that start at Velana, the seaplane terminal, domestic flights and speedboats. How to choose an atoll and a resort is covered on our page about the Maldives. Most clients are families and couples heading for an island resort, along with business visitors and investors who have meetings in the capital.

Send the dates, the number of passengers and the resort or hotel. If the last stage is a seaplane, we plan the landing time first and the departure from Europe after it.

Why fly privately to the Maldivian capital

Flight times from Europe, the Gulf and Asia

Each time below is copied from the price tables further down:

• Falcon 7X non-stop: Larnaca 7:29 h, Istanbul 8:22 h, Athens 8:42 h, Vienna 10:01 h, Munich 10:28 h, Milan Linate 10:34 h
• Falcon 7X non-stop: Nice 10:43 h, Zurich 10:44 h, Frankfurt 10:50 h, Hamburg 10:52 h, Geneva 10:55 h
• Global 7500 non-stop: Amsterdam 10:54 h, Paris Le Bourget 11:00 h, London Farnborough 11:20 h, Madrid 11:25 h
• Praetor 600 with one fuel stop: 12:21 h from Vienna, 14:12 h from London Farnborough
• Phenom 300: Colombo 1:32 h, Bengaluru 1:58 h, Mumbai 2:43 h, Dubai 4:32 h
• Praetor 500: Phuket 3:58 h, Singapore Seletar 4:44 h

The times follow the routing European operators use around closed airspace, over the Balkans, Turkey and the Gulf and then across the Arabian Sea, which adds about 14 per cent to the straight line. A Praetor 600 or Challenger 650 lands once for fuel, usually in the Gulf, which makes the journey between 1:45 and 3 hours longer. Westbound the flight meets the stronger wind, and a planner may ask for a stop on the way home even after a non-stop flight out.

Private jet prices to Malé

All prices are for the whole aircraft, one way, to Velana International, plus landing and parking permit, handling, fuel stop charges, airport fees and taxes. An aircraft based near the departure city is assumed, and the flight time shown is that of the first aircraft in the row.

From the European hubs

The Praetor 600 with one fuel stop is the lowest price: EUR 84,000 from Vienna and EUR 97,000 from London, but its cabin seats up to nine and the stop adds hours. The Falcon 7X flies non-stop from most central European hubs, for EUR 125,000 from Vienna and EUR 135,000 from Geneva; from London, Paris, Amsterdam and Madrid it lands once. The Global 7500 is non-stop from every city in the table and costs EUR 135,000 out of Vienna.

From other European cities

From all six cities the Gulfstream G550 and G650 fly without landing, while the Challenger 650 stops once.

From the Gulf, India and South-East Asia

Many clients reach the islands after meetings in the Gulf or India, or combine them with Asia. These sectors are short enough for light and midsize jets:

Cells reading "on request" are sectors beyond the non-stop range of that aircraft. Each border crossing means its own landing permit, and the Maldivian one has to include parking, so the onward plan should be known when we apply.

On a ten-hour sector the price is mostly flight time plus the empty return, because an aircraft that brings guests to the islands rarely has anyone to fly back. Parking at Velana is limited, so for a resort stay of a week or two we usually quote the aircraft dropping you off and either flying home or waiting at Gan in the south, and compare it with parking at Velana plus crew hotels. Overflight permits, the fuel stop's charges and Maldivian departure charges are listed in the quote. In Europe the departure country adds its own tax: EUR 200 per passenger on flights from or to Italy at this distance and EUR 12 from Austria, plus the French solidarity tax for business jets, which rises with distance from about EUR 420 within Europe to about EUR 2,100 per passenger on long-haul flights like this one, per-passenger taxes in Germany, Norway and the Netherlands, and UK APD: the higher rate for jets of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats, the standard rate of the distance band for lighter jets.

Business jet price per flight hour

Heavy Jets from EUR 8,300 / hour

Light Jets from EUR 3,200 / hour

Ultra Long Range Jets from EUR 12,000 / hour

Super Midsize Jets from EUR 6,300 / hour

Very Light Jets from EUR 2,500 / hour

Long Range Jets from EUR 9,800 / hour

Midsize Jets from EUR 4,500 / hour

Turboprops from EUR 2,000 / hour

What a trip really costs

Price per person

Divided by the number of seats taken, the charter price per head falls quickly; departure taxes and seaplane fares are paid for each passenger on top:

Online calculator

The calculator e-mails a first estimate. In the comment, give the resort or hotel and say whether the aircraft should wait at Velana.

Velana International: permits, lounge, parking

Velana International (MLE, VRMM), formerly Malé International, covers almost the whole of Hulhulé island about 2 km east of the city and is run by Maldives Airports Company. Its runway 18/36 is 3,400 m long and takes every business jet and airliner; the old runway beside it serves as a taxiway. Airport, tower, customs and immigration work around the clock, but during construction works the runway can close at night after notice in a NOTAM, so the landing time is confirmed for the specific date.

A handler is compulsory, and those used by private operators include Flight Support Maldives, MVK Maldives and Universal Aviation. Private passengers clear passport and customs in the airport's lounge for commercially important persons, while the handler clears the crew on the general declaration. The landing permit and a parking slot are requested together, with names and passport numbers that must match exactly: handlers advise at least one month ahead from November to March and at least one week in the rest of the year, although the regulations name 72 hours as the minimum. The aviation authority's office keeps daytime hours, and a permit is valid for 24 hours.

Fuel is supplied only by the airport company, ordered at least 48 hours in advance, and queues can form in the high season. Parking space for private aircraft is limited, and over Christmas and New Year it is often full, so the aircraft drops the passengers and flies to Gan or home.

Other airports for private jets

Most domestic airfields have runways of about 1,100 to 1,200 m and serve turboprops, so business jets use a handful of airports. Distances are straight-line from Velana:

Maafaru is the main private jet airport outside the capital, and for the northern resorts it saves the seaplane flight from Velana. The handling arrangements there and at Gan are confirmed separately for each flight.

Which aircraft for a flight to the Maldives

The runway at Velana sets no limit, so the choice depends on range, cabin and price:

Seaplanes allow about 20 kg of checked baggage and 5 kg of hand baggage per person, much less than a business jet carries. Large suitcases can follow by speedboat, or the resort stores them; tell us the number of bags early. More in the catalogue of ultra long range jets and heavy jets.

Not sure which aircraft and landing time fit your resort? Leave a phone number and a consultant calls you back.

When to fly: permits and parking through the year

For a private flight, the season matters less for the weather than for the permits and space at the airport:

The temperature stays around 30 °C all year, and rain in the wet season usually comes in short heavy showers.

From Velana to the city, Hulhumalé and the resorts

Seaplane operators include Trans Maldivian Airways and Manta Air; a whole aircraft can be chartered for the group. For a same-day seaplane the jet should land by about 15:00, so we plan backwards from that time.

Empty Legs to and from Malé

Long-range jets that have dropped guests at Velana often fly home empty, and regional aircraft from the Gulf and India pass through all season. Typical directions:

The operator sets the date and time, and the Maldivian permit and parking are needed as for any flight. Send the direction and the dates you could travel to empty-legs@jets.flights.

Pets: dogs not admitted, cats with conditions

• Dogs of any breed cannot be imported into the Maldives; no permit, quarantine or exemption changes this, on a private jet or any other flight.
• Cats may enter only through Velana and are checked by a vet on arrival. They need a health certificate from an authorised vet, the usual cat vaccinations and a rabies vaccination given at least 30 days and at most 12 months before arrival.
• Bengal and Savannah cats are admitted only from the fifth generation.
• The resort or hotel must agree in advance, and many do not take animals.
• For the return to Europe, the Maldives are not on the EU list of countries exempt from the antibody test: the cat needs a blood test at least 30 days after vaccination and three months before re-entry, plus microchip and EU pet passport. The UK accepts pets only through approved routes and handlers.
• On board, the cat travels in the cabin beside you, up to five animals per trip, once the operator has approved it.

Entry, customs and local rules

Many trips continue to Sri Lanka, the Seychelles or the Gulf; for flights from the Emirates see our page on Dubai.

Before departure: checklist

• Passports valid at least one month after arrival, ideally six.
• IMUGA declaration for every passenger within 96 hours before landing.
• Names and passport numbers matching the permit, sent early.
• Resort name and its seaplane or speedboat timetable.
• A hotel in town or on Hulhumalé if the landing is after the last seaplane.
• Luggage within the seaplane allowance, or a plan for the extra bags.
• No alcohol, pork or vaping devices in the luggage.

How to book a private jet to Malé

1. Send the departure airport, dates, number of passengers and the resort or hotel; say whether the aircraft should wait.
2. We fix the landing time around the transfer, then compare a non-stop long-range jet with a cheaper aircraft and a fuel stop.
3. You receive 2-4 options with operator, model, cabin photos, flight time and the price for the whole aircraft, with parking at Velana or Gan shown separately.
4. You sign the contract and pay; the operator applies for the landing and parking permit, and the handler books fuel and the lounge.
5. Before departure each passenger completes IMUGA; on arrival the handler meets you at the aircraft and takes you to the lounge and the transfer.

Our team

Charlotte McKinney

Commercial Director

charlotte.m@jets.flights

Henry Richter

Head of Aviation Department and Data Protection Officer

henry.r@jets.flights

Emma Miller

Director of Development

emma.m@jets.flights

Liam Bishop

Senior Aviation Consultant

liam.b@jets.flights

Oliver Davis

Aviation Consultant

oliver.d@jets.flights

Anna Laurent

Aviation Consultant

anna.l@jets.flights

Questions about private flights to Malé

• • How much does a private jet to Malé cost?

  • From the main European hubs a Praetor 600 with one fuel stop costs from EUR 84,000 (Vienna) one way for the whole aircraft, a non-stop Falcon 7X from EUR 125,000 and a Global 7500 from EUR 135,000. From Colombo a light jet starts at EUR 12,000.

• • Which airport do private jets use?

  • Velana International on Hulhulé, next to the capital. For resorts in the north some aircraft land at Maafaru, and Gan in the far south serves for parking.

• • How long is the flight from Europe?

  • A Falcon 7X flies non-stop in 10:01 h from Vienna and 10:55 h from Geneva, and a Global 7500 in 11:20 h from London Farnborough. With one fuel stop in a Praetor 600, allow 12:21 h from Vienna.

• • Can we reach the resort on the day we land?

  • By seaplane only if you land by about 15:00, because seaplanes fly in daylight. Speedboats to resorts in the Malé atolls also run after dark.

• • How far ahead do we need the permit?

  • Handlers advise at least one month from November to March and one week in the rest of the year. The permit includes parking, and the passenger names must match the passports.

• • Can the aircraft wait at Velana?

  • If the parking slot is approved with the permit. Over Christmas and New Year space is often full, so the aircraft parks at Gan or flies home and returns.

• • Do we need a visa?

  • No application in advance: a free 30-day visa is issued on arrival. Every passenger completes the IMUGA declaration within 96 hours before landing.

• • How long is the drive from the airport to the city?

  • About 10-15 minutes across the Sinamalé Bridge, or 10 minutes by boat. Hulhumalé is about 10 minutes away by car.

• • Can we bring our dog or cat?

  • Dogs cannot be imported at all. A cat can enter through Velana with a health certificate and a rabies vaccination given 30 days to 12 months before arrival, if the resort agrees.

• • How much luggage can we take?

  • The jet carries luggage for a full cabin, but seaplanes allow about 20 kg checked and 5 kg hand baggage per person. Extra bags can follow by boat.

• • Are there Empty Legs to Malé?

  • Yes, mostly long-range jets returning to Europe after a drop-off and regional legs from the Gulf, India and Sri Lanka. Send your dates to empty-legs@jets.flights.