The new passenger terminal at Velana International Airport(VIA) is a complete facility that meets international standards and requirements, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has said.
In preparation for the 26 July opening of the new terminal, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) is conducting special tours for relevant stakeholders of the new facility. These are required tours as part of the Operational Readiness, Activation, and Transition (ORAT) process leading up to the opening of the new terminal.
As part of the process, a team from the CAA was shown around the new terminal on Sunday with the ORAT team answering questions from the visiting CAA officials.
After the tour, CAA Air Transport Director Abdulla Rasheed said that the new terminal is in line with international standards, adding that the new facility will prove to be a major convenience to tourists coming to the Maldives.
ORAT is a comprehensive methodology used in the aviation industry, particularly for airports, to ensure a smooth transition from the construction phase to full operational status. ORAT helps mitigate risks associated with opening new or redeveloped facilities by thoroughly preparing all aspects of airport operations, including infrastructure, systems, and personnel.
The terminal, scheduled to open in conjunction with Independence Day celebrations, is envisioned as a modern, high-capacity hub. Staff training and operational preparedness continue apace, forming central pillars of MACL’s final-phase rollout.
The new facility will span 78,000 square metres and is designed to handle up to seven million passengers each year, representing a substantial increase from the current terminal's annual capacity of 1.5 million. The terminal will have 47 check-in counters designed with locally inspired designs, six self-service kiosks and 24 counters dedicated for seaplane passengers.
MACL will initially allocate the new passenger terminal to national airline, Maldivian’s international passengers.