President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced the new terminal of Velana International Airport (VIA) will be opened in October this year.
This is the third date given for the opening of the new terminal since Muizzu assumed office in November 2023.
He first said the terminal would be opened in September 2024. He then said the terminal would be opened in July 2025. This was the date announced by the former administration.
Although Muizzu said the terminal opening would be delayed, he did not mention a reason for this in his address to the opening session of the People's Majlis today.
The Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) did not mention the delay in the work when summoned to a meeting of the State Owned Enterprises (SOE) Committee of parliament in November 2024.
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.
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
