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Maldives to inaugurate new runway of Velana Airport next week

Malika Shahid
29 September 2022, MVT 19:09
[File] First aircraft to officially open the new runway at Velana International Airport and the first A380 to land in Maldives: The runway will be operational on October 6 -- photo: Nishan Ali
Malika Shahid
29 September 2022, MVT 19:09

The new runway at Velana International Airport (VIA) is set to open on October 6.

An official of the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), which operates the airport, confirmed that in addition to the new runway, the official opening ceremony of the airport's new seaplane terminal will be held on the same day.

The new seaplane terminal at Velana Airport, "Noovilu", started operations in July.

The runway, which was officially opened in 2018, at the end of President Abdulla Yameen's administration, has faced criticism for not being utilized. However, MACL said the operations of the new runway was delayed due to the relocation of the seaplane terminal.

The new runway is 3,400 meters long and 60 meters wide and can accommodate A380 aircrafts.

When the new runway becomes operational, the existing runway will then be used as a taxiway.

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