Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has successfully completed its special operational plan at Velana International Airport (VIA) to facilitate the departure of Maldivian Umrah pilgrims travelling during July.
The final group of pilgrims departed today, bringing the total number of Umrah travellers handled under the operation to more than 5,565.
The operation was jointly coordinated by MACL’s Passenger Services, Terminal Services and Estate Security Services teams, in collaboration with key airport stakeholders, to ensure a smooth and efficient departure process.
To streamline passenger processing, groups of more than 100 pilgrims were offered pre-check-in services a day before their scheduled departure. This allowed baggage drop-off, check-in procedures and boarding pass issuance to be completed in advance. MACL also worked closely with Maldives Immigration to facilitate passport clearance before departure day.
At the airport, dedicated terminal entrances, immigration counters, security screening lanes and X-ray machines were allocated exclusively for Umrah pilgrims. These measures helped reduce waiting times and ease congestion within the terminal.
MACL also introduced additional traffic management measures around the airport, including arrangements for vehicle movements, taxi queues and access routes, while ensuring that regular airport operations continued without significant disruption.
The company expressed its appreciation to Maldives Immigration, participating airlines, travel agencies, Umrah groups, airport stakeholders, and all institutions and individuals whose support contributed to the successful completion of the special operation.
