AIRPORT REVIEW
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2 Waiting for the new main terminal to open its doors to travelers , the 2022 vintage seaplane terminal is the best-looking and most comfortable part of the airport , offering plenty of space and luxurious lounges .
3 During the COVID pandemic , the lockdown in the Maldives only lasted three months . That ’ s one of the reasons why the archipelago has been named ‘ World ’ s Leading Destination ’ at the World Travel Awards in 2020 , 2021 , 2022 , and 2023 .
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OFTEN CALLED ‘ AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER in the Indian Ocean ’, the Maldives ’ Malé Velana International ( MLE ) is teeming with traffic . Last year , some 4.3 million travelers passed through its 1980s-vintage terminal , which was originally designed for 1.5 million .
However , at some point between the end of this year and the first months of 2025 , the pressure on that old terminal will ease , as a giant new one will finally open to the public . The Maldivian government is pushing for it to open before the end of 2024 , but others consider a springtime inauguration to be more realistic . The soon-to-
18 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE JULY 2024 www . airwaysmag . com