Emirates shifts all operations to VIA New Terminal

Emirates, the largest international carrier serving the Maldives, officially transitioned all its services to the new passenger terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA) today. 

Passengers arriving on Emirates flights were welcomed into the state-of-the-art facility, which first opened its doors in July this year. The airline has now fully integrated its check-in, boarding, and arrival processes into the new terminal, becoming the 37th airline to make the move.

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) confirmed that this transition is part of a wider effort to consolidate all international flight operations within the upgraded facility. 

According to MACL officials, Qatar Airways is scheduled to move its operations to the new terminal tomorrow, Monday, December 22. Once Qatar Airways completes its transition, all major international airlines serving the Maldives will be operating from the new terminal.

This consolidation comes at a critical time as the Maldives enters its peak tourist season, with record-breaking arrival numbers expected by the end of the year.

The new terminal, a massive investment totaling USD 457 million (MVR 7 billion), was designed to replace the aging infrastructure. Although construction began in 2016 and faced several delays, the facility now offers a vastly improved passenger experience. Key features of the new terminal include:

The New terminal is designed to handle up to 7.5 million passengers annually. And 47 check-in counters and 6 self-service kiosks, with automated baggage handling systems and smart immigration counters designed to increase processing speed by over 30 percent.