President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has visited the new terminal of Velana International Airport (VIA) and inspected the construction site.
Upon arrival, he was briefed by senior officials from Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) and the project’s contractor, Saudi Binladin Group regarding the facilities being established at the new terminal to enhance passenger services. The President was accompanied by Cabinet ministers and senior Government officials.
The current terminal at VIA has the capacity to handle 1.5 million passengers annually, while the Maldives last year hosted over 2 million tourists. Therefore, the airport is currently operating at overcapacity.
In stark contrast, the new terminal, encompassing 78,000 square meters, will accommodate over seven million passengers each year. The terminal is being developed with modern facilities. The government aims to bring the terminal into operation by October this year.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu earlier stated that as the Maldives islands are geographically dispersed, transportation between islands has become an essential need. Therefore, in a bid to address long-standing transportation challenges faced by Maldivians and under efforts to enhance the tourism sector, the government is undertaking significant efforts to expand the country’s air transport system, he stated.
The new terminal at VIA will feature state-of-the-art technology and amenities, including passenger boarding bridges (PBBs) and advanced baggage handling systems. This modernisation is anticipated to address many of the challenges currently faced by the existing terminal and will enable the addition of food and beverage outlets, retail spaces, passenger lounges, and other services.
The Maldives is working to keep up with modern changes in air transport and provide quality services. Various local airlines are acquiring aircraft of different makes to expand services in line with the President’s policies and vision. Recently, the national flag carrier, Maldivian introduced its first wide-body aircraft and expanded its services to new international destination. The airline is in the process of acquiring an additional wide-body aircraft.
The new terminal at VIA is expected to boost the country’s economy and increase the prosperity of the people.