Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has announced that Velana International Airport (VIA) airspace will be closed for one and a half hours on Saturday night during the official opening of its new terminal. The ceremony will feature a drone show and fireworks, with additional celebratory events scheduled at Hulhumalé Central Park and Addu City.

The opening coincides with the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations. MACL stated that the new terminal will initially handle Maldivian international flights, with other airlines gradually shifting operations as part of the ORAT (Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer) process.

Built at an estimated cost of USD 600 million, the terminal was developed by the Saudi Bin Laden Group and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). Spanning 72,000 square feet, the state-of-the-art facility features 47 check-in counters, six self-service kiosks, an advanced baggage handling system, and enhanced security screening, with capacity to serve up to 7 million passengers annually.