The quality of services provided in the new international passenger terminal at the Velana International Airport (VIA) will be up to par with the service standards on offer by the globally renowned tourism industry of the Maldives, the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has assured.
Maldives remains a luxury tourism brand, but the current passenger terminal at VIA is not tailored to meet industry standards, according to MACL despite 90 percent of the airport’s total passengers being tourists.
Speaking on Television Maldives (TVM) ‘Heyyambo’ programme, MACL’s Managing Director Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed expressed confidence that the new terminal will elevate service quality of the airport to cater to the quality of service expected by the country’s luxury tourism industry.
"Hopefully the new terminal will be at the top tier of IATA standards. That means our waiting time, safety and security, duty free and all these services will be world class. We need to match the service quality of our airport to the luxury brand of our tourism,” he explained.
According to Shareef, VIA has the most air traffic between 6:00 am and 3:00 pm every day as many airlines operate flights during these hours. However, due to space constraints to process passengers, VIA had been unable to operate more flights at these hours, he said.
The new terminal, however, will eliminate this obstacle and open up Maldives for further tourism expansion with the ability to accommodate more flight operations during peak hours, he added.
"85 percent of passengers arrive during these peak hours. So every airline will always need more slots. So opening this terminal will provide more opportunities for airlines that want to arrive during this prime time. We are working hand in hand with the tourism industry,” Shareef said.
The inauguration of VIA's new passenger terminal is scheduled for 26 July to coincide with Independence Day. Designed to accommodate seven million passengers annually, the facility is expected to broaden airline partnerships and support expanded flight frequencies. Government officials project the upgraded terminal will reinforce the Maldives' tourism sector and elevate the country's standing as a regional hub for international travel.