Villa International Airport Maamigili

Villa International Airport Maamigili

ވިލާ ބައިނަލްއަޤުވާމީ ވައިގެބަނދަރު
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorVilla Group
ServesMaamigili, Alif Dhaal Atoll, Maldives
Hub forFlyme
Elevation AMSL7 ft / 2 m
Coordinates03°28′14″N 072°50′09″E / 3.47056°N 72.83583°E / 3.47056; 72.83583
Map
VAM is located in Maldives
VAM
VAM
Location in Maldives
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
09/27 1,800 5,905 Asphalt
Source:[1]

Villa International Airport Maamigili[2] (IATA: VAM[3], ICAO: VRMV), also known as Villa-Maamigili Airport, is an airport in the Maldives. It is located on the island of Maamigili in Alif Dhaal Atoll.

The airport was developed by Maldivian business tycoon Qasim Ibrahim, who grew up in Maamigili, as a project to develop the infrastructure and facilities of the island. He has started a project to build new runways so planes from abroad visiting his resorts will be able to land directly on this airport, instead of having to stop off at Malé airport. It was developed and operated by his company, Villa Group, on land leased from the government.[4] The airport opened up direct transportation facilities to two of their flagship resorts located on adjacent islands.

The opening of the airport coincided with Villa's entry into the aviation industry, the founding of a new airline Villa Air (operating as Flyme), to operate from the airport.[5]

The airport opened on October 1, 2011 as a domestic airport. In 2013, it was upgraded to international airport standards.

Villa Airport was downgraded to domestic status by the government in August 2014 because of security concerns, but was reinstated as an international airport 23 days later.[6]

In January 2015, Flyme started seaplane operations out of Villa Airport.[7]

Facilities

The airport resides at an elevation of 6 feet (2 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 09/27 with a concrete surface measuring 1,800 by 30 metres (5,906 ft × 98 ft).[1]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
FlymeMalé

References

  1. ^ a b Airport information for Villa Airport Maamigili (IATA: VAM, ICAO: VRMV) at Great Circle Mapper.
  2. ^ "List of Aerodromes from Maldives Civil Aviation Authority". Air Navigation & Aerodromes. Maldives Civil Aviation Authority. 2015. Retrieved Feb 15, 2015.
  3. ^ "IATA Airport Code Search (VAM: Maamigili Island)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  4. ^ "Maamigili Airport - Villa - The Leading Business Initiative in Maldives". Villa. Archived from the original on 9 May 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  5. ^ Jameel, Abdullah (1 October 2011). "Maamigili airport opens with 'Flyme' airlines entering into service". Haveeru Daily. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved Feb 15, 2015.
  6. ^ "Maamigili Airport returns to international status". Minivan News. 17 September 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved Feb 15, 2015.
  7. ^ Ahmed, Zifleen (19 January 2015). "FlyMe officially begins seaplane operations". Vaguthu. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved Feb 15, 2015.

Media related to Maamigili Airport at Wikimedia Commons