Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) said air traffic movement was recorded at 856 last Saturday, January 7.
MACL said the airport observed 605 seaplane movements, 102 international and 114 domestic flight movements with an additional 35 private jet movements.
Previously, the highest number of flight movements on the runway was recorded on January 2 2022, with a record of 826 movements.
A new record in flight movement was set this year, owing to the increase in the number of private jet arrivals in Maldives. Last year alone, private jet movements were recorded at over 2,500. During December 2022 alone, more than 300 jet movements were recorded.
Velana International Airport (VIA) is observing an increase in air traffic movements since the new runway opened. Several international airlines, are set to commence flight operations to Maldives in 2023. Chinese airlines are also scheduled to begin operations to the country this month.
Maldives reported over 1.67 million tourist arrivals in 2022, bringing the total number of passengers movements at VIA to 2 million.