Velana International Airport (VIA) has commenced operational flow familiarisation training for the seaplane counters at the recently inaugurated terminal 1. The work is initiated as part of the broader effort to operationalise the seaplane check-in counters at the new terminal.
Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), in a post shared on social media stated that the trial was conducted to evaluate and validate end-to-end passenger handling and operations workflows. In the same post, MACL confirmed that 2 airline operators participated in the training. The two airlines are Flyme and Maldivian.
In line with the Maldives proudly carrying the largest seaplane operation in the world, the new terminal has a twenty-four-hour check-in counter dedicated to seaplanes. Currently, 33 airlines are providing their services at the new passenger terminal which was inaugurated on the 26th of July of this year.
This 72,000 square meter terminal, designed to handle 7.5 million passengers annually, is a pivotal development for Maldivian tourism. Key features include 12 passenger boarding bridges, 47 traditional check-in counters, 6 self-check-in kiosks and an advanced baggage handling system with real-time tracking.