Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has announced that no sections of the new terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA) will be inaugurated this year due to failure to meet project deadlines.
MACL first targeted to open the new terminal in September. But due to the slow pace of the project, the company later decided to inaugurate a section of the new terminal in November.
Speaking at a sub-committee of the Parliament Committee on State Owned Enterprises (SOEs), MACL Managing Director Ibrahim Shareef said a section of the terminal can be opened in November if needed.
But he noted that the Airline Operators Committee (AOC), which represents airlines flying to Maldives, had requested that the new terminal not be opened this year in order to avoid problems it may cause with the increase in tourist arrivals from Europe during the winter season.
"One of the reasons these people are saying this. For example, there is a problem here and all the connecting flights from Dubai to Europe will be delayed for one and half hours. They fear a problem like that could happen," he said.
Shareef added that discussions were held with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu as the new terminal cannot be inaugurated this year as pledged by the President.
85 percent complete, inauguration in June or July
Shareef told the committee that 85 percent of the new terminal is now complete and will be opened in June or July next year.
Work ongoing to complete the new terminal. -- Photo: Adhadhu
Before assuming office in November last year, President Muizzu criticized the slow pace of the project and pledged to get it done by September this year.
"The information received in the transition phase shows that the airport will not be completed soon. The current prediction is it will be complete by July 2025. That is not acceptable to us. The economy is slowing down," he said on October 29, 2024.
But his government failed to meet that deadline.
In June this year, Muizzu said the airport would be completed by July 2025. This was the date announced by the former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government as well.
The new passenger terminal is part of the Velana Airport expansion project launched by former President Abdulla Yameen.
The completion of the ongoing expansion project at Velana International Airport, including the passenger terminal, will more than double the airport's capacity to accommodate 7.5 million passengers annually.
The new two-storey terminal will have 78,000 square meters. This will solve the space constraints faced by the existing terminal.
There will also be aero boarding bridges, state-of-the-art baggage handling systems, FNB outlets, lounges and other services
