Velana International Airport’s newly inaugurated Terminal 1 has officially entered service, handling more than 2,400 passengers within its first four days of operation, according to the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).
The state-of-the-art terminal, opened on July 26 in a ceremony marking the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day, welcomed its first flight on July 27 — a Maldivian Airlines service from Cochin International Airport in India. Since then, Terminal 1 has facilitated 14 flights operated by the national carrier, serving a total of 2,410 passengers. Among them, 1,454 were inbound travelers arriving in the Maldives, while 956 were outbound passengers departing the country.
MACL confirmed that the transition of international airline operations to Terminal 1 will continue gradually through the globally recognized ORAT (Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer) process. This phased approach, carried out in collaboration with international aviation consultancy Modalis, ensures a smooth and secure shift of services to the new terminal infrastructure.
“Each airline will be moved individually in a staged manner, with the goal of having all international operations fully functional in Terminal 1 ahead of the upcoming peak tourist season” MACL stated.
Terminal 1, designed to enhance the Maldives’ capacity to manage rising air traffic and improve the travel experience for international passengers, is a key milestone in the country’s broader aviation infrastructure upgrades. The opening comes as the Maldives prepares for a surge in tourist arrivals in the final quarter of 2025.
With the new terminal already operational and delivering promising early results, stakeholders expect it to play a pivotal role in reinforcing the Maldives’ position as a premier global tourism destination.
