Velana International Airport’s new Passenger Terminal 1 has welcomed its first Chinese airline, with Beijing Capital Airlines officially beginning operations from the facility. The milestone makes the carrier the fifth airline to move into the terminal, which has been gradually opening its doors to international operators.
The inaugural flight, JD455-6, arrived with 276 passengers on board and was greeted with a ceremonial water salute and traditional cultural dances. At the same time, the airline opened its check-in counters at the terminal and offered gift bags to the 248 passengers departing on its first outbound flight.
A ceremony was held to mark the occasion, attended by Adhil Moosa, the former CEO and Managing Director of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), who now serves as CEO of Treetop Hospital.
Beijing Capital Airlines, a low-cost carrier based at Beijing Daxing International Airport, joins four other airlines currently operating from Terminal 1: national carrier Maldivian, UAE’s Air Arabia, premium carrier Beond, and Sri Lanka’s Fitz Air.
According to MACL, two more airlines are scheduled to transition their operations to Terminal 1 within the week, further expanding the range of carriers using the new facility.
