VIA new terminal to serve four more airlines this month

The new international terminal at Velana International Airport will begin serving four additional airlines this month, the airport operator Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has said. The names of the carriers have not yet been disclosed.

The terminal, which opened on 26 July to mark the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day, is currently used by Maldivian, UAE budget airline Air Arabia and luxury carrier Beond.

Beond, the first luxury airline to operate from the new facility, began services on Thursday. Its inaugural aircraft, B4091, received a water salute on arrival at Terminal 1, with cultural performances staged to welcome 35 passengers. Forty-three departing passengers were also presented with gifts at check-in.

Beond is backed by Arabesque, a joint venture between the Maldives’ Simdi Group and international aviation investors.

MACL said it aims to transfer all 34 airlines currently operating from the airport to the new terminal by next month, ahead of the peak tourism season.

Construction of the USD 457 million (MVR 7 billion) facility began nine years ago. The new terminal is designed to handle 7.5 million passengers annually and includes state-of-the-art aviation services.