By Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has announced that four more airlines will begin operating from Velana International Airport’s newly inaugurated terminal before the end of this month. The names of the airlines are yet to be revealed.
The new international terminal, which was officially opened on July 26th to mark the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day, currently accommodates three airlines: national carrier Maldivian, UAE-based budget airline Air Arabia, and luxury operator Beyond Airlines.
Beyond Airlines, which commenced operations today, became the first luxury airline to utilize the new terminal. The airline is backed by Arabex in partnership with the Maldives’ SIMDI Group and seasoned aviation professionals.
To commemorate the milestone, MACL held a special ceremony where Beyond’s check-in counters were officially launched. Gifts were presented to the 43 outbound passengers on Beyond’s maiden flight, while its first aircraft to arrive at the terminal, flight B4091, received a traditional water salute. The 35 inbound passengers were warmly welcomed with Maldivian cultural performances.
MACL further stated that all 34 airlines currently using Velana International Airport will be transferred to the new terminal by the end of next month, ahead of the peak tourism season.
The state-of-the-art terminal, developed over nine years at a cost of $457 million (7 billion rufiyaa), is equipped with modern aviation facilities and has the capacity to serve 7.5 million passengers annually.