The Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has advised all passengers travelling through Velana International Airport (VIA) to arrive early, citing increased congestion caused by ongoing roadworks and a sharp rise in outbound travel ahead of the Eid holidays and the Hajj pilgrimage.
In a public advisory issued on X, MACL noted that passenger traffic has reached unusually high levels. The company attributed the crowding to road construction near the new terminal, combined with a significant increase in travellers departing for Eid al-Adha and Hajj.
Additionally, with the next five days marked as public holidays for Hajj and Eid al-Adha, both domestic and international travel are expected to increase, contributing to higher traffic at the airport.
The airport operator strongly encouraged passengers to follow their respective airline’s check-in guidelines and arrive at the beginning of the check-in period to avoid delays. Additional ground staff have been deployed to support operations and assist passengers during this peak travel period.
