New terminal opens at Velana airport in the Maldives

New terminal at Velana airport in the Maldives - the airy building will improve the arrivals experience in the Maldives

After almost a decade of construction, the Maldives has finally opened its new passenger terminal at Velana International Airport.

Velena is the main entry point for visitors into the country and the new terminal will massively boost the number of arrivals that can be handled by the airport each year. It will also provide a much more sophisticated arrival experience into a country that boasts some of the most luxurious resorts in the world. 

The 72,000 sqm terminal is a game changer for Maldivian tourism, replacing the ageing existing building which was designed for just one million arrivals. The new facility will see up to seven-and-a-half million passengers pass through its gates each year. Key features include dedicated seaplane check-in counters and an advanced baggage handling system with real-time tracking. Enhanced services include 47 check-in counters, six self-service kiosks, 20 immigration counters, 12 aerobridges and six departure gates, including e-gates. 

The new terminal opened in the summer as part of a phased roll-out, with all airlines expected to have transferred to the new facility by the end of this year.