Velana International Airport’s new Terminal 1 has officially welcomed Italian carrier Neos as its latest operating airline, marking another milestone in the phased opening of the Maldives’ state of the art passenger terminal.
A ceremony was held at Terminal 1 today to commemorate the launch. The event was attended by Managing Director of FENAKA Corporation Limited Major Retired Mohamed Najah, Neos Director of Ground Operations Damiano Rosso, and senior officials from Maldives Airports Company Limited.
The airline’s dedicated check in counters were inaugurated during the ceremony, where 341 outbound passengers received special gifts before departure. Neos’ first arrival to the new terminal, flight NO610, brought 346 visitors to the Maldives and was greeted with a cultural welcome arranged by MACL to mark the occasion.
Neos has operated flights to the Maldives since December 20, 2004 and currently stands as Italy’s second largest airline. Its shift into Terminal 1 increases the number of airlines now served by the new facility to 27, reinforcing VIA’s position as one of the region’s busiest and most diverse international gateways.
MACL stated that integrating Neos into Terminal 1 aligns with its goal of elevating airport service standards and providing an enhanced operational environment for all partner airlines as VIA prepares for full commissioning of the new terminal.
