New VIA terminal serves over 2,000 passengers so far

The new terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA) has served more than 2,000 passengers since its operations began earlier this week.

According to Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), a total of 956 passengers have departed from the new terminal, while 1,454 have arrived. Operations began on Sunday with the arrival of the first Maldivian flight from Cochin, India.

Since then, Maldivian has operated 14 flights through the terminal, MACL said in a press release issued today.

MACL said international flight operations will be gradually transferred to the new terminal through an Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (Orat) process, carried out in partnership with international aviation consulting firm Modalis.

Under the Orat process, one airline at a time will be moved to the new terminal. All international flights are expected to operate from the new terminal by September.

The new terminal is designed to handle 7.5 million passengers annually.