The Maldives has opened a new domestic terminal at its hub, Velana International Airport.
The new terminal handles the small island states’ inter-island connectivity.
NEW DOMESTIC TERMINAL VELANA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, MALDIVES
The airport has relocated domestic operations to its new Terminal 2.
The transition, which came into effect in early February, consolidates all domestic flights to the new terminal.
The move aims to improve efficiency by streamlining passenger flow and reducing congestion.
TOURISM FLOWS
Maldives is a popular island getaway for visitors from around the world.
A number of airlines operate services to the country, using Velana International Airport, which is located on the island of Hulhule.
This island is adjacent to the island of Male, where the capital is situated. The two islands are also connected by a bridge. However, this is generally not used for passenger transport.
Being the country’s only airport, Velana can become congested, when there are high passenger flows.
MOVING AROUND THE ISLANDS
Transportation from Velana Airport includes: public ferries to Male (the capital), speedboats (to nearby resorts) and sea plane transfers (to other islands). Hence the need for more streamlined domestic passenger flows.
The move also forms part of broader development efforts to modernise the airport’s facilities and accommodate growing demand for inter-island air transport across the Maldives.
In fact, Velana International Airport hosts one of the world’s busiest and largest sea plane operations.
Trans Maldivian Airways, Manta Air and Maldivian Air Taxi provide sea plane taxi services to other islands in the Maldives.
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