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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Velana International Airport

Malé, Malé (capital city) (Maldives)

IATA: MLE ICAO: VRMM

Longest Active Runway

11,155 ft

3,400 meters

Field Elevation

6 ft

2 m MSL

Runway Inventory

1 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

4.1918°, 73.5291°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#340 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#550 of 7558

Top 7.3% percentile worldwide

National Standing (Maldives)

#2 in MV

#2 of 11 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+11.6%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Velana International Airport's longest active runway measures 11,155 ft (3,400 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #340. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #550 worldwide (Top 7.3%) and #2 nationally in Maldives.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Velana International Airport (MLE)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Velana International Airport occupies the entire landmass of Hulhulé Island. Its newly commissioned 10,500 ft runway allows Code 4F aircraft like the Airbus A380 to land smoothly, while the conversion of the historic strip into a parallel taxiway dramatically boosted airfield movement capacity by eliminating runway backtrack delays. Alongside the land strip, four dedicated water runways handle hundreds of daily Twin Otter seaplane transfers.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Single primary land runway 12/30 (10,500 ft / 3,200 m) with the parallel former runway converted into an active full-length taxiway, plus adjacent seaplane water runways.

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Opened in 1960 on Hulhulé Island with a slotted steel plank runway laid by local volunteers. Commissioned a brand-new 3,200m asphalt runway built by China Beijing Urban Construction Group in 2022.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Sole international gateway for the Republic of Maldives, co-located with the world's busiest floating seaplane base operated by Trans Maldivian Airways.

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Flanked by the Indian Ocean on both sides at just 6 ft elevation; aircraft roll out directly adjacent to ocean seawalls under steady tropical equatorial sea breezes.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Maldives National Civil Aviation Authority · State Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) & ICAO Annex 14 Standards

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Comparative aviation metrics evaluated against regional and global physical operational criteria.

ICAO Code 4E / 4F Super-Heavy

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Elevation & Atmospheric Density

Lowland / Coastal Basin Aerodrome

Velana International Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 6 ft (2 m MSL) in Malé. Situated in low-lying coastal terrain, the aerodrome benefits from dense ambient atmospheric pressure, maximizing turbine engine thrust and wing lift efficiency across all departure vectors.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

0 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

Sole international gateway for the Republic of Maldives, co-located with the world's busiest floating seaplane base operated by Trans Maldivian Airways. The facility operates as an isolated regional aviation anchor with no other major paved commercial aerodromes within 100 NM.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 11,155 ft (3,400 m)

Velana International Airport's active flight strips comprise 18/36 (11,155 ft). With a longest active threshold of 11,155 ft (3,400 m), the aerodrome satisfies unrestricted long-haul takeoff and landing distance requirements for heavy twin-aisle and four-engine widebodies (ICAO Code 4E/4F).

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
18/36	11,155 ft (3400m)	197 ft (60m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active

🛡️ Data Provenance & Verification Metadata

Source Dataset: OurAirports Open Aviation Database

Snapshot Version: 2026-09-01

Dataset Integrity: Cryptographic SHA-256 Checksum Verified & Fail-Closed Schema Inspected

Source Verification: Source-reported registry data

Read Complete Methodology & Verification Protocol → GET /api/airport/mle.json ↗