Dhaka, July 28 -- The new terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA) was officially opened on Saturday evening at a ceremony officiated by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.

The terminal was inaugurated nine years after the commencement of construction. According to government officials, the project is the largest infrastructure development undertaken in the Maldives to date.

The national airline, Maldivian, will begin operating from the new terminal, with additional airlines set to transfer operations in a phased manner.

The first phase, scheduled for July and August, will see the relocation of operations for several smaller airlines. This phase will account for approximately one-third of the flights and 12 percent of passenger departur...