Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) will initially allocate the new passenger terminal at the Velana International Airport (VIA) to national airline, Maldivian’s international passengers, the company has revealed.
MACL is seeking consultation from Modalis Infrastructure Partners Inc. to ensure that the new passenger terminal meets international standards, prioritises safety and offers comprehensive services.
The new passenger terminal is scheduled to open on 26 July, to coincide with the Maldives’ Independence Day. MACL has launched an official countdown to the opening of the terminal.
According to MACL, the new international passenger terminal will be brought into full operation over a period of three months in line with international best practices.
Services will be switched to the new terminal under a specific schedule as advised by the consultant, the company said.
MACL’s Chief Executive Officer Ibrahim Shareef during a special media event on 22 July, revealed that Maldivian will get first use of the new terminal which will continue for a two week period.
MACL Chief Commercial Officer Mohamed Mihad said the terminal will be opened to other airlines' narrow body flights based on the Maldivian's experience. Nine airlines have already been designated to operate narrow body flights with a carrying capacity of about 200 passengers to Maldives, he said.
The second phase of the new terminal will continue to cater to narrow body flights for about three months, he added.
According to Mihad, the capacity of the new terminal should be kept at 1,000 passengers for the first three months which will be used to test operations to identify service gaps and make changes if any. The terminal will be opened to airlines operating wide-body aircrafts thereafter, he added.
MACL’s CEO Shareef had said the entire terminal will be fully operational by the start of this year's tourist season. By then, the terminal's FNB and duty-free, and entire commercial area will be developed, he said.
However, he assured that some of these services will be made available even during the first two phases.
The new facility will span 78,000 square metres and is designed to handle up to seven million passengers each year, representing a substantial increase from the current terminal's annual capacity of 1.5 million. The terminal will have 47 check-in counters designed with locally inspired designs, six self-service kiosks and 24 counters dedicated for seaplane passengers.