Velana International Airport (VIA) has set a new record for seaplane movements.
According to the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), 649 air traffic movements of Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA), Maldivian, and Manta Air were recorded on January 2. This achievement surpasses the previous record of 635 seaplane movements, which was set on February 19, 2023.
The significant surge in seaplane movements aligns with the Christmas and New Year period, a time when the Maldives experiences a substantial influx of tourists each year.
The Maldives set a target of attracting 1.8 million tourists last year and achieved the goal on December 20 last year. India and Russia were the top tourist source markets last year, with the country receiving 209,100 tourists from Each of these markets.
