Maldives main airport’s new terminal serves first flight

A flight from Cochin landed at the newly opened international terminal of Velana International Airport (VIA) on Sunday, marking the first arrival at the new facility.

The Airbus A330 operated as the maiden flight to use the terminal, according to Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL). The aircraft was greeted with a water salute upon arrival.

The new terminal was inaugurated by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu at a ceremony held the previous evening.

The terminal, constructed over a period of nine years, is the largest infrastructure project undertaken by the Government of Maldives. Work on the terminal began in 2016 after the project was handed over to the Saudi Bin Laden Group, which subcontracted the construction to China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).

The terminal’s initial estimated cost was $350 million (MVR 5.3 billion), with the most recent estimate standing at $457 million (MVR 7 billion).

Key features of the new terminal include the capacity to serve 7.5 million passengers annually, 40 departure gates, 38 immigration counters, and aero bridges for boarding and disembarking.