The national airline, Maldivian, has announced an increase in its scheduled services to Funadhoo Airport in Shaviyani Atoll, a development that is expected to further strengthen connectivity to one of the Maldives’ emerging resort and investment corridors in the north. Effective immediately, the carrier will operate four scheduled flights a week to Funadhoo, up from the previous three weekly services. The enhanced schedule introduces flights every Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, compared to the earlier pattern of only Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday operations. The additional frequency is positioned to ease travel for both residents and international visitors, supporting smoother domestic connections from Velana International Airport and other gateways.
Funadhoo Airport, which officially commenced operations in February 2020, was conceived as a strategic piece of infrastructure to unlock the economic potential of Shaviyani Atoll and surrounding northern communities. Developed by the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), the project required substantial land reclamation works, including the dredging of 40 hectares of land to create the platform for the facility. The airport features a 1,200-metre-long and 30-metre-wide runway, a 90-metre taxiway and a 50-metre apron, providing enough operational capacity to comfortably handle the increased frequency of Maldivian’s domestic operations, along with future growth in traffic. These specifications position Funadhoo as a capable domestic hub for both scheduled flights and potential charter operations tied to resort and tourism demand.
For the tourism sector, the upgraded schedule enhances the attractiveness of Shaviyani Atoll as a northern leisure destination. The atoll already hosts high-end international resorts such as JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa and Sirru Fen Fushi – Private Lagoon Resort, which are recognised for their luxury villas, expansive lagoons, and premium wellness and dining facilities. While many of these properties are currently served predominantly by seaplane transfers, stronger domestic connectivity into Funadhoo is expected to complement existing transfer options by improving logistics for resort staff movements, cargo and supplies, as well as creating a more flexible mix of access routes for future tourism investments in nearby islands.
The increased weekly flights are also likely to benefit guesthouses, local island tourism initiatives and ancillary service providers across Shaviyani Atoll. Enhanced air access can reduce travel time for visitors arriving from international flights, making the northern atolls more competitive against destinations closer to Malé that benefit from shorter transfer durations. As domestic aviation capacity scales up, travel trade partners and tour operators will have greater flexibility to package itineraries that combine high-end resorts, local-island stays and experiential products such as diving, fishing and cultural excursions in the region. For investors, the combination of an operationally capable airport, rising flight frequency and the presence of established five-star brands adds to the business case for further resort and tourism-related development in and around Shaviyani Atoll.
From a broader economic perspective, the decision by Maldivian to expand services to Funadhoo aligns with ongoing efforts to decentralise growth and distribute tourism-driven income more evenly across the archipelago. Improved connectivity supports labour mobility, facilitates more efficient transport of goods and services, and strengthens the link between tourism hubs, local communities and supply chains. As Funadhoo Airport continues to mature as a regional gateway, the latest increase in flights is expected to reinforce Shaviyani’s position on the tourism and investment map of the Maldives, while providing residents and businesses with more reliable and convenient air transport options throughout the week.
advertisment
advertisment
