MACL presents first Velana Awards for aviation sector
Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) on Thursday presented the Velana Awards, marking the first award programme dedicated to the aviation sector in the Maldives.
The ceremony was held at Crossroads Maldives and was attended by MACL’s Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed, members of the MACL board, senior management, and representatives from the aviation industry.
Speaking at the event, Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed said the Velana Awards recognise the contributions of MACL’s partners and reflect joint efforts within the aviation sector. He said progress in aviation is measured not only by operational figures but also by outcomes for the industry as a whole.
He noted that the government sets annual targets related to tourism, cargo operations, and economic activity, and that meeting these targets requires coordination with airline partners.
A total of 22 awards were presented across three main categories.
Velana Awards 2026 recipients:
- Airline of the Year: Etihad Airways
- Freighter of the Year: Afcoms Holdings Limited
Passenger Awards (International) – Top Airline by Passenger Growth:
- East and Southeast Asia: AirAsia
- Middle East: Etihad Airways
- Commonwealth of Independent States: Aeroflot
- Europe: Virgin Atlantic
- Indian Subcontinent: FitsAir
Passenger Awards (International) – Top Airline by Passenger Throughput:
- East and Southeast Asia: Singapore Airlines
- Middle East: Emirates
- Commonwealth of Independent States: Aeroflot
- Europe: Turkish Airlines
- Indian Subcontinent: IndiGo
Passenger Awards (Domestic):
- Top Domestic Airline by Passenger Growth: Manta Air
- Top Domestic Airline by Passenger Throughput: Trans Maldivian Airways
Cargo Awards:
- Top Airline by Air-to-Air Import: Afcoms Holdings Limited
- Top Airline by Air-to-Air Export: Qatar Airways
- Top Airline by Sea-to-Air Export: Qatar Airways
- Top Airline by Cargo Throughput: Emirates
Lounge Award Category:
- Vilu Partner Award: Jawakara Islands Maldives
- Maamahi Partner Award (Travel Agent and Tour Operator): Avia Maldives
- Maamahi Partner Award (Resort): Soneva Resorts
- Koveli Partner Award: Emirates
MACL said the Velana Awards will be held annually to recognise partners of Velana International Airport. The company said the programme is intended to support connectivity, service delivery, and aviation operations in the Maldives.
