Seaplane Transfer Policy

Trans Maldivian Airways “TMA” provides seaplane transfers to/from TMA Terminal at the Male’ International Airport “MIA” to coincide with the arrival/departure of international flights. The seaplane transfer time from TMA Terminal to Veligandu is about 20 minutes.

Typically, upon arrival in the Maldives, after clearing Immigration and Customs formalities, a guest would be transferred from the International Arrival Terminal to the TMA Terminal, about a 10 minute shuttle bus ride, and wait no longer than about 1 hour at the TMA Terminal Departure Lounge before a scheduled seaplane transfer would depart for Veligandu. In rare instances, such as if an international flight arrival is delayed or a baggage claim form must be completed, then the maximum time for such a wait would usually be about 2 hours.

Seaplanes fly during daylight hours only, i.e., between about 6:00 and 18:00 Airline policy requires passengers to check-in no later than 2 hours before flight time, therefore a Veligandu guest can connect by seaplane only to international flights departing MIA after 9:00 Also, the last seaplane departure from Veligandu is about 16:30

Guests arriving on an international flight from which it is not possible to connect with the last seaplane departure from TMA Terminal (the guest must check-in at the TMA Terminal no later than about 16:00) will have to overnight at the Hulhule Airport Hotel, or at a hotel in Male’, or remain at the Airport. Such matters are handled by the guest’s local ground handling agent.

In rare instances, due to circumstances outside the control of TMA and/or Veligandu, such as unfavorable weather conditions, the seaplane departure may be scheduled to depart earlier than usual from Veligandu to the TMA Terminal; or later than usual from the TMA Terminal to Veligandu, in which case, TMA nor Veligandu assumes any liability for any related expenses of the guests.