Maldivian, the national airline, has announced that the first service from the new terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA) will be for one of its wide-body aircraft.
Sharing information with PSM News, Maldivian said that as per President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s prioritization of the national airline, the new passenger terminal will first be opened for Maldivian’s international flight passengers. The airline informed that passengers on the first flight arriving from Kochi this afternoon will be served through the new terminal.
The crew serving on this historic flight from Kochi will be dressed in traditional Maldivian cultural attire. Female crew members will be wearing long Maldivian dresses, while male crew members will be in white shirts and mundu.
Maldivian stated that the flight from Kochi will land at Velana International Airport around 2:00 PM, after which all of the airline’s aircraft will begin receiving services through the new terminal.
After Maldivian’s flight experience, the terminal will then be opened to narrow-body flights of other airlines. These are aircraft with approximately 200 passengers. Nine airlines currently operating narrow-body flights to the Maldives have been designated, and with these flights, the terminal is set to be tested for about 3 months.
The new terminal at Velana International Airport was officially opened by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. He was accompanied by Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed, CEO of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), which operates Velana International Airport. As part of the terminal opening, a model of the terminal was presented to the President.
Velana Airport was officially opened with colorful events. A special report highlighting the long history and important development milestones of Velana Airport was presented during the ceremony, along with a special theatrical performance for the airport opening. A drone show during the ceremony showcased symbols of Velana Airport, and the events concluded with fireworks.
