Opening of new seaplane terminal postponed to May

The opening of the new seaplane terminal developed at the Velana International Airport has been postponed to next month. 

The terminal, developed by China’s Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG), was previously scheduled to open on April 1. 

However, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL)’s Corporate Communications General Manager Hassan Areef told Sun on Sunday morning that the opening date of the seaplane terminal has been changed to May 15. 

Areef said that the opening of the new seaplane terminal was postponed because the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted some of the work on the terminal. 

He said that the pandemic caused delays in bringing some of the equipment and material into Maldives, and a shortage of labor. 

Areef said the work on the terminal was proceeding at full speed now. 

MACL has said that the new seaplane terminal at the VIA will be a modern terminal that meets international standards, and will also be the largest seaplane terminal in the world. 

Construction of the seaplane terminal began on January 29, 2020. 

MACL had previously stated that the terminal would be up and running by the middle of last year. 

BUCG was awarded the project to develop the seaplane terminal for USD 40 million.