Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has stated the new runway of Velana International Airport (VIA) will be brought to operation on October 6.
MACL recently installed the Instrument Landing System (ILS) on the runway and calibrated it for use. ILS is a navigation aid that assists pilots to land in normal or extreme weather conditions.
The new VIA runway is 3,400m long and 65m wide and can accommodate the largest commercial airplanes currently in use, such as the wide-bodied passenger aircraft. The runway was developed by China based-Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) at a cost of USD400 million. The project was funded by a loan provided by China-based Axis Bank Limited. The new runway will help to increase the number of flights landing at the airport per hour by 30%.
The new seaplane terminal at VIA will also be operational on October 6. The seaplane terminal is part of the USD77 million investment to upgrade the services of VIA. Around 3.5 hectares of land were reclaimed in Hulhule' for the development of the terminal. It is equipped with VIP lounges, lobbies, baggage handling facilities, retail shops, and food and beverage services. Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) has transferred all of its operations with 57 seaplanes to the new terminal, which will now house the largest seaplane fleet in the world.