SriLankan Airlines has officially commenced passenger services from Terminal 1 of Velana International Airport, marking another milestone in the phased rollout of the airport’s new terminal.
The launch was commemorated with a special ceremony held at Terminal 1, attended by His Excellency Mohamed Rizvi Hassen, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Maldives. The event also brought together Nayomi Tenakoon, Country Manager of SriLankan Airlines, along with senior management and officials from Maldives Airports Company Limited.
As part of the inauguration, SriLankan Airlines’ check-in counters at Terminal 1 were formally opened. Gifts were distributed to 115 passengers departing on the airline, while 277 passengers arriving on the inaugural flight UL101 were welcomed with traditional cultural performances, underscoring the Maldives’ emphasis on hospitality.
SriLankan Airlines becomes the second Sri Lankan carrier to operate from Terminal 1. The national airline has a long-standing presence in the Maldives, having launched its services to the country on September 1, 1979.
With the inclusion of SriLankan Airlines, Terminal 1 now serves a total of 33 airlines. MACL has reiterated that the core objective of the new terminal is to deliver comprehensive, efficient, and premium-quality services to all airlines operating to and from the Maldives, as the country continues to strengthen its position as a key aviation hub in the Indian Ocean.
