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Fresh face for Velana International Airport: Inside new passenger terminal

The new international passenger terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA) is scheduled to open on Saturday night, marking a significant expansion of the airport’s infrastructure.

According to Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), the terminal was developed at a cost of approximately MVR 7 billion. It is designed to accommodate the growing number of international travellers and address long-standing congestion issues during peak tourism periods.

The existing international terminal currently handles between 2,700 to 3,000 passengers per day. However, during the peak season, daily passenger numbers have exceeded 12,000. The new terminal is built to manage up to 7.5 million passengers annually.

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Key features of the new terminal include:

  • 47 check-in counters
  • Six self-check-in kiosks
  • 20 departure immigration counters
  • 28 arrival immigration counters
  • Six passenger boarding gates
  • Five baggage claim belts and one oversized baggage belt

The terminal is equipped with additional immigration counters and scanning machines for security clearance, which MACL states will help reduce waiting times for passengers. The layout spans three main functional areas: check-in facilities on the ground floor, security and immigration on the second floor, and duty-free outlets and food and beverage areas after clearance.

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One of the notable additions is the introduction of aerobridge for the first time in the Maldives. A total of 12 aerobridge will be used to improve turnaround time for aircraft. Currently, it takes 28 minutes for passengers to disembark and enter the terminal after landing. With the aerobridge, this is expected to be reduced to approximately eight minutes.

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The boarding gate areas have been designed with passenger convenience in mind, including mobile charging outlets at every seat and open views of the airport apron.

The new terminal will initially serve international flights operated by the national airline, Maldivian. Other international airlines are expected to transition operations to the new terminal starting in September.

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MACL stated that the new building integrates elements intended to reflect Maldivian culture and history. The ceiling features wave and cloud designs, while the exterior includes a replica of the seal of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar.

Hotelier Maldives
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