Review: seaplane transfer from Male to Alila Kothaifaru Maldives

Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.

I recently enjoyed a wonderful holiday in the Maldives. During my trip, I did not stay at Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani – my favorite resorts in the Maldives (I am going back though in 2024) – but I tried out some new, ultra-luxurious and fabulous resorts. Read my trip reports here:

Review: Qatar Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner Business Class from Brussels to Doha
Review: Qatar Airways Boeing 777 Business Class from Doha to the Maldives
Review: British Airways Boeing 777 Business Class (new suite) from London to Male
Review: Joali Being
Review: InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort
Review: Seaplane transfer to Alila Kothaifaru Maldives (today)
Review: Alila Kothaifaru Maldives
Review: Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island
Review: Edelweiss Air Airbus A340 Business Class from Male to Zurich

Today: Review of the seaplane transfer to Alila Kothaifaru Maldives

Newly opened in May 2022 and housed on a 27.6 acre private island, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives (managed by Hyatt Hotels) is located on the Raa Atoll – one of the deeper atolls in the archipelago which offers abundant snorkeling and diving options to discover rich marine life from colorful corals to manta rays and sharks. A sanctuary designed for deep relaxation and nature connection, the low-key resort features 44 beach villas and 36 overwater villas, all boasting private freshwater pools and soothingly sophisticated interiors created by natural tones and textures. Fine dining restaurants and a tranquil spa set against a backdrop of lush vegetation, turquoise waters and abundant marine life set the scene for a relaxing stay interspersed with adventure.

Alila Maldives can be reached via a scenic 45 minute seaplane journey from Male Airport. Alternatively, the resort is also accessible by domestic flight to the nearest domestic airport – Ifuru (IFU) – followed by a speedboat ride. This is a review of the shared seaplane transfer from Male to Alila Kothaifaru Maldives (I’ll publish my review of the resort itself next week). Below is my YouTube movie documenting my transfer to the 5-star resort.

-Upon arrival at Velana International Airport, also known as Malé International Airport, and after passing immigration, guests are met by an Alila host, who takes care of the luggage and provides assistance with the check-in at the Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) counters so secure the seaplane boarding passes. There are two seaplane operators in the Maldives: Manta Air is the newest airline while Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) is the oldest air carrier in the country (and also the largest seaplane operator in the world). Manta Air is the most premium of the two airlines (although the difference is only marginal): it has a pre-departure lounge open to all passengers and its seaplanes feel slightly more modern and offer a little bit more space per seat. Some resorts work with TMA (such as Alila Kothaifaru Maldives) while others have contracts with Manta Air.

MALDIVES SEAPLANE FLIGHT — TMA COUNTERS AT MALE AIRPORT

Once checked in for the seaplane transfer, the TMA staff transfers guests by bus to the new seaplane terminal, which is located on the other side of the airport’s perimeter. The drive to the seaplane terminal takes only 5 minutes.

The seaplane terminal – the largest of its kind in the world – is designed to accommodate more than 100 seaplanes and operate 300 daily flights on average – rising to 600 during peak season – with the capacity to serve more than 6,000 tourists a day. The modern 4-story terminal includes new facilities, and 42 lounges of which all except two have been leased to resorts. The terminal’s sleek design reflects the turquoise and blue shades of the famed Maldivian lagoons.

At the seaplane terminal, the Alila Resort does not have its own lounge, but its guests have access to the TMA lounge, called Coral Lounge. Located on the 2nd floor of the building, the VIP lounge offers guests a chance to relax before their onward flight to their chosen destination. The lounge is basically on big room with several seating areas styled in a contemporary decor. Facilities include a dedicated quiet zone with recliners & massage chairs, a kids play area with toys and activity books, lavatories, and changing facilities with showers. One side of the lounge features a buffet where an array of meals, snacks and (non-alcoholic) refreshments are offered. The lounge’s highlight is a balcony, where you can watch the well-synchronized daily operations of seaplanes landing and taking off from the water runways. To your left, you can see the international arrivals and departures happening on Velena International Airport’s main runway.

From the lounge, it’s a short stroll to the briefing room (where a safety video is shown) and the seaplane docks. Each seaplane in the Maldives has a crew of two pilots and one flight attendant (alias luggage handler), all of them wearing shorts and operating the plane barefoot. The cabin seats 15 passengers in total, with single seats on one side of the plane and double seats on the other side. Seats are not assigned, so the first ones on board can choose the best seats. There’s no door between the cockpit and the cabin, so you can observe the pilots’ activities when you are not distracted by the awesome views while flying over the atolls. It can get quite hot in the cabin, although some fans cool down the temperature as soon as the seaplane leaves the docks. Also, the seaplane is really loud, and passengers are provided ear plugs for their comfort. There are no toilets onboard.

The flight from Male to Alila Kothaifaru Maldives takes around 45 minutes, although it may be 10 minutes longer in case a stop-over needs to made at another resort to drop-off other passengers. There’s no service onboard, and there’s not much to do, except for enjoying the phenomenal views as you fly over several atolls. For most people, thé iconic image of the Maldives is that of a deep blue ocean interspersed by tiny palm islands surrounded by ridiculously clear lagoons and sugar white beaches. The only way to see that breathtaking view of 50 shades of blue is from the air, and although you will catch a few glimpses of the islands from your plane upon landing or departure at Male airport, the best vantage point for the breathtaking panoramas is offered by the seaplanes that take guests to their resorts. Flying on board a seaplane in Maldives and admiring the picture-perfect archipelago from a bird’s eye perspective is one of the ultimate experiences that the destination has to offer.