New VIA terminal opening: Drone show at 9:20, fireworks at 9:40

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has delayed drone show and fireworks displays scheduled for the grand opening of Velana International Airport’s (VIA) new terminal.

Originally planned for 8:30 pm, the drone show will now take place at 9:20 pm, followed by fireworks at 9:40 pm.

MNDF did not provide an official reason for the delay, but it is believed that the airport runway was not yet cleared for the event.

The six-minute fireworks display will be launched from 16 different locations across Male' said to be the largest such display in the region.

MNDFhave arranged the event so that the fireworks will be visible from any part of the capital.

The new international terminal, set to be inaugurated tonight to mark the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day, is one of the country’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.

Launched in 2016 during former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration, the project has cost USD 457 million (MVR 7 billion).

The terminal will feature 47 check-in counters and six self-service kiosks, aiming to deliver processing speeds more than 30 percent faster than the existing terminal.

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) projects revenue growth of 7-8 percent next year, with expectations of a 15 percent increase in the year after.