Velana International Airport, the primary airport in the Maldives, achieved a historic milestone with 925 flight movements on January 6, 2024. Maldives Airports Company Ltd announced this record-breaking feat, marking VIA’s highest-ever daily flight activity.
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Malé, Maldives – Velana International Airport (VIA), the primary gateway to The Maldives, proudly announced a groundbreaking achievement, recording 925 flight movements on January 6, 2024. This milestone, revealed by the Maldives Airports Company Ltd. (MACL), represented the highest number of flight movements ever documented in the airport’s rich history.
VIA took to social media to commemorate this historic feat, stating, “Cheers to the happy travellers, setting the bar higher than ever!” Surpassing the previous record of 861 flight movements, this remarkable accomplishment underscored VIA’s dedication to excellence in air transportation.
The record-breaking day was made possible through the unwavering commitment and support of both domestic and international airlines, as well as seaplane operators, according to MACL. Of the 925 flight movements, 672 were seaplane operations, 104 were international flights, 116 were domestic operations, and 33 were ad-hoc movements, predominantly private jets.
Ibrahim Thoha, Deputy Managing Director of MACL, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders involved, stating, “This achievement was a testament to the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders involved. We extend our sincere thanks to the airlines and operators for their exceptional support in making this record-breaking day possible.”
MACL emphasised that this remarkable milestone solidified VIA’s pivotal role in the aviation sector. Strategic enhancements in operations and services, including adaptations to accommodate the winter peak season, significantly contributed to this success.
Amidst the winter peak season, which witnessed a surge in tourist arrivals, the Ministry of Tourism reported a promising growth trajectory. As of January 9, 2024, 50,983 tourists had arrived in The Maldives, marking a 6.4 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Last year, The Maldives welcomed a total of 1,878,543 tourist arrivals.
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