Flight delays after runway closure at Velana International Airport

Several international and domestic flights were delayed and some diverted tonight after the runway at Velana International Airport (VIA) was closed during the opening ceremony of the airport's new terminal.

According to VIA’s flight information service, aircraft from Singapore Airlines, Emirates, IndiGo, and Batik Air were among those affected.

Multiple domestic flights were also delayed or diverted.

The runway reopened at 11:35 pm, with Emirates and Singapore Airlines flights experiencing delays of around an hour. A Batik Air flight from Malaysia was diverted, while two domestic flights were rerouted. An IndiGo flight from Cochin and five domestic flights operated by Maldivian were also delayed.

Sources said the runway remained closed for an extended period after drones used in the opening ceremony fell onto the runway, requiring time to safely remove the debris.

Maldives Airports Company Ltd (MACL) said that the runway has since reopened and that delayed flights are now landing in sequence.

The drone show and fireworks display, held from 9:20 pm to 9:50 pm, were part of celebrations marking the opening of the new terminal.

Initially, the terminal will serve passengers flying with the national carrier, Maldivian.