Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has begun operational flow familiarisation training for seaplane check in counters at the newly inaugurated Terminal 1 at Velana International Airport, as part of efforts to prepare the facility for full seaplane operations.
In a post shared on social media, MACL said the trial was conducted to assess and validate end to end passenger handling and operational workflows at the new terminal. The training involved two airline operators, Flyme and Maldivian, both of which participated in testing the operational processes for seaplane passengers.
The introduction of dedicated seaplane counters at Terminal 1 aligns with the Maldives operating the largest seaplane network in the world. The new terminal includes 24 hour check in counters specifically allocated for seaplane operations, reflecting the sector’s importance to the country’s tourism industry.
At present, 33 airlines are operating from the new passenger terminal, which was officially inaugurated on 26 July this year. The terminal spans 72,000 square metres and has been designed to handle up to 7.5 million passengers annually.
Facilities at Terminal 1 include 12 passenger boarding bridges, 47 conventional check in counters, six self check in kiosks, and an advanced baggage handling system with real time tracking. MACL has been gradually transitioning operations to the new terminal as part of broader plans to modernise passenger processing and improve operational efficiency at Velana International Airport.
