Private jet to Ari Atoll
Ari Atoll lies west of Malé, beyond the reach of a quick speedboat ride, and its resorts are reached from Velana International Airport by seaplane in about 25 to 35 minutes. The atoll is divided into two administrative atolls, Alifu Alifu in the north and Alifu Dhaalu in the south, and South Ari has a runway of its own: Villa International Airport on the island of Maamigili.
For a private flight this gives two ways in. The jet can land at Velana and the group continues by seaplane, or it can fly to Maamigili, from where only a boat ride remains for resorts in the south of the atoll. Which suits you depends on the departure city, the size of the group and the time of landing. Maldives Private Jet obtains prices for both from licensed operators and works out the total travel time to the villa for each.
Velana or Maamigili
The two airports serve different aircraft and different parts of the atoll. Their strengths, side by side:
- Large cabin jets such as the Gulfstream G650 fly nonstop from Paris, Geneva or Hong Kong.
- Formalities in the VIP/CIP building, then a short drive to the seaplane terminal.
- Serves every resort in Ari, including North Ari, which has no runway.
- Seaplanes fly only in daylight, so the landing must be planned around the last flight.
- The aircraft we usually suggest here are super midsize jets: the Praetor 600 and the Challenger 350.
- Nonstop from Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong; from Europe with one fuel stop.
- Closest to resorts in South Ari, which finish the journey by speedboat.
- The operator checks for every flight that the chosen jet suits the 1,800 m runway.
A third option, the scheduled domestic flight from Velana to Maamigili followed by a boat, is explained together with the runway, the operator and the resorts nearby on the page about Villa International Airport Maamigili. Arrival procedures at Malé are covered on the page about private jets at Velana airport.
Resorts of Ari Atoll and their transfers
Resorts are spread from North Ari down to the southern tip of the atoll. The examples below give the transfer as each resort or its seaplane operator publishes it:
South Ari. A 30-minute seaplane flight from Velana; the resort gives seaplane operating hours of 06:00 to 15:30 daily. A domestic flight and speedboat is offered as the alternative.
Fesdu island, North Ari, 57 km from Velana. A return seaplane transfer is mandatory for every guest and charged separately by the resort.
South Ari. About 25 minutes by Trans Maldivian Airways seaplane from Malé.
The Centara resort in South Ari. About 25 minutes by seaplane; if the aircraft lands at a platform further out, a dhoni or speedboat covers the last 10 to 15 minutes.
South Ari. About 35 minutes by seaplane from Velana; the resort also describes the route by domestic flight and speedboat as a practical alternative.
South Ari. About 25 minutes by seaplane. LUX* South Ari Atoll and Constance Moofushi are served by the same Trans Maldivian network.
In North Ari the seaplane is the usual link, as there is no runway for private aircraft in that half of the atoll. In South Ari the speedboat from Maamigili is the alternative, and resorts such as Conrad and Villa Park name it on their own pages.
Timing a seaplane arrival
For any Ari resort reached from Velana, the seaplane sets the schedule. Trans Maldivian Airways treats 15:30 as the latest landing in the country for a same-day seaplane, and 15:30 is also when Conrad's seaplane operations end. The flight from Europe is planned backwards from that time; the seaplane terminal and the baggage allowance are explained on the page about transfers to and from the airport.
Malé is four hours ahead of Paris in the European winter and three hours ahead in summer. A Gulfstream G650 that takes off from Paris Le Bourget shortly before 01:00 local time in winter lands at Velana at around 14:30 after 9 h 42 min, leaving time for the formalities and the drive to the seaplane terminal. From Singapore, which is three hours ahead of Malé, a Praetor 600 flies to Maamigili in 4 h 50 min, so a late morning departure brings the group to a South Ari resort in the early afternoon.
Whale sharks and mantas
Many guests choose Ari for what lives around it. The South Ari Marine Protected Area, known as SAMPA, covers 5,595 hectares in the national list of protected areas. Visit Maldives, the official tourism board, reports whale sharks there in every month of the year; individual sharks come back so reliably that no other whale shark site in the world has a higher re-sighting rate.
Manta rays follow the monsoons. Visit Maldives lists Mahibadhoo Manta Point on the east side of South Ari from June to November, and Rangali Madivaru Manta Point on the west side from January to May. The resort's dive centre organises the trips, and the seasons in other atolls are compared on the page about things to do in the Maldives.
Prices to Velana
One-way guide prices for the entire aircraft, before passenger taxes and fees, for the large cabin jet we usually suggest from each city. All six flights are nonstop:
| From | Aircraft | Flight time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Le Bourget | Gulfstream G650 | 9 h 42 min | €130,000 |
| Geneva | Gulfstream G650 | 9 h 20 min | €125,000 |
| Moscow Vnukovo | Gulfstream G650 | 8 h 1 min | €105,000 |
| Dubai Al Maktoum | Legacy 650 | 4 h 9 min | €46,000 |
| Singapore | Legacy 650 | 4 h 36 min | €48,000 |
| Hong Kong | Gulfstream G650 | 5 h 49 min | €85,000 |
From Velana the seaplane completes the trip. Its cost is set by the resort or the seaplane operator and is not included in the flight price.
Prices to Maamigili
The cheaper of the two super midsize jets that our data plans into Maamigili, priced for the entire aircraft and one way, with taxes and fees for passengers extra:
| From | Aircraft | Flight time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Le Bourget | Challenger 350 | 12 h 22 min, 1 fuel stop | €84,000 |
| Geneva | Challenger 350 | 11 h 57 min, 1 fuel stop | €81,000 |
| Moscow Vnukovo | Challenger 350 | 10 h 30 min, 1 fuel stop | €72,000 |
| Dubai Al Maktoum | Praetor 600 | 4 h 18 min, nonstop | €32,000 |
| Singapore | Praetor 600 | 4 h 50 min, nonstop | €35,000 |
| Hong Kong | Praetor 600 | 6 h 37 min, nonstop | €45,000 |
From the Gulf and Asia the direct flight to Maamigili is the cheaper choice: from Dubai the Praetor 600 costs €14,000 less than the Legacy 650 to Velana and saves the seaplane, although its cabin is smaller, with up to 12 seats. Eight passengers from Singapore pay €4,300 each. From Europe the Challenger 350 costs the same to Velana and to Maamigili, €81,000 from Geneva for example, so for a group of up to 10 the direct landing in South Ari adds no cost. City pages such as Paris to the Maldives and Singapore to the Maldives show further aircraft.
On the busy Gulf to Malé corridor, Empty Legs can save 30 to 60 % of the charter price, and Jet Sharing lets a few travellers buy seats on a shared flight, payable only once enough people have joined.
Planning a private flight to Ari
- Choose the resort firstNorth or South Ari decides the airport: North Ari means Velana and a seaplane, South Ari allows Maamigili as well.
- Compare both airportsWe quote a large cabin jet to Velana and a super midsize jet to Maamigili where both make sense, with flight times and the transfer that follows.
- PermitsThe handling agent obtains the permit from the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority, prior permission and a stand. In the high season, from November to March, allow at least a month.
- Transfer bookingThe resort books the seaplane or the boat; we send it the landing time, passenger names and the luggage, including dive equipment.
- DepartureThe departure tax for private jet passengers, US$480, and an airport development fee of the same amount are charged per foreign passenger and shown in our quote.
Questions about private jets to Ari Atoll
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- Can a private jet land in Ari Atoll?
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Yes, in South Ari. The Maldives Civil Aviation Authority lists Villa International Airport on Maamigili among the airports for private flights, and the operator checks each aircraft against its 1,800 m runway. North Ari has no runway for private jets.
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- Should we land at Velana or at Maamigili?
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Velana suits large cabin jets from Europe and every resort reached by seaplane. Maamigili suits super midsize jets from the Gulf and Asia and resorts in South Ari reached by boat.
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- How long is the seaplane flight to Ari?
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About 25 minutes to Lily Beach, Machchafushi or Maafushivaru, 30 minutes to Conrad Rangali and about 35 minutes to Villa Park.
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- What if we land in Malé after 15:30?
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A seaplane on the same day is then usually no longer possible. Guests of South Ari resorts can reach Maamigili by domestic flight and finish by boat; for North Ari the transfer follows the next morning.
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- Where are the whale sharks?
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In the South Ari Marine Protected Area, where Visit Maldives reports them all year round. Resorts in the area arrange the trips.
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- When can we see mantas in Ari?
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On the east side of South Ari at Mahibadhoo Manta Point from June to November, and on the west side at Rangali Madivaru from January to May.
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- Is there a nonstop flight from Europe to Maamigili?
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Not with the super midsize jets planned for its runway, which make one fuel stop on the way from Europe. Nonstop flights from Europe in a Gulfstream G650 land at Velana.
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- What does a flight from Dubai to Ari cost?
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A Praetor 600 to Maamigili costs from €32,000 one way and takes 4 h 18 min. A Legacy 650 to Velana costs €46,000, with the seaplane to follow.
Tell us where you are staying, when and how many of you are travelling, and we will compare the two airports for your trip:
An aviation consultant will answer your questions about private flights to the Maldives, compare aircraft for your route and dates, and prepare offers. Requests are handled around the clock.