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Velana International Airport has been nominated for two major awards at the World Travel Awards 2026, competing with leading airports from around the world.
Mariyam Adheela
Velaana International Airport --
Male’: Velana International Airport (VIA) has been nominated in two categories at the World Travel Awards 2026, giving the Maldives’ main international airport a chance to gain further international recognition.
Operated by Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), VIA is nominated for World’s Leading Airport 2026 and World’s Leading Airport – Customer Experience 2026.
The nominations come after VIA won the title of Indian Ocean’s Leading Airport 2026 at the regional World Travel Awards held in the Maldives in September.
In the World’s Leading Airport category, VIA will compete with major international airports, including Singapore Changi, Dubai International, Hong Kong International, Istanbul Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, John F. Kennedy International in New York and Zurich Airport.
For the Customer Experience award, VIA is among 12 nominated airports. The other nominees include Singapore Changi, Dubai International, Hong Kong International, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, Sydney Airport and Auckland Airport.
MACL has urged Maldivian residents, travellers and tourism industry stakeholders to vote for VIA in both categories. Voting is being conducted through the official World Travel Awards website.
The winners of the 2026 awards are expected to be announced at the World Travel Awards Grand Final later this year.
