New Cargo Terminal Opens Today at VIA

The new cargo terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA) has been completed and is ready to open today.

The foundation stone of the project was laid in January 2018 by China's Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) during the administration of former President Abdullah Yameen. During President Dr. Muizzu’s recent state visit to China, he met with the chairman of the company, and the pair discussed further avenues for collaboration and development of the Maldives.

The terminal is now complete, according to the Maldives Airports Company Ltd. (MACL), which operates the airport. Therefore, MACL has decided to hold a special ceremony to open the facility this evening.

President Dr. Muizzu will attend the opening ceremony. The new terminal, built near the Hulhule Island Hotel (HIH), will be about three times larger than the existing cargo terminal. It will have a storage capacity of 12,0000 metric tons of cargo at a time.

The major project to develop the VIA includes a new cargo terminal, a new runway and a fuel farm. The new runway is already in use and the new fuel farm is nearing completion.