Aeroflot Begins Operations from Velana International Airport Terminal 1

Aeroflot officially began operations from Terminal 1 of Velana International Airport (VIA) on 28 December, marked by a ceremonial welcome for the airline’s inaugural arrival.

The flight was received a traditional water salute, followed by a warm reception for arriving passengers. Among those present were Hussain Fahmy, Principal Secretary to the President on Policy and Manifesto; Evgeny Ratushnyy, Aeroflot General Manager for the Maldives; Aleksei Idamkin, Consul General of the Russian Federation in the Maldives; Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed, CEO and Managing Director of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL); and members of the MACL Executive Committee.

As part of the launch, Aeroflot’s dedicated check‑in counters at Terminal 1 were officially opened. MACL also distributed gifts to 133 departing passengers, while the 384 passengers arriving on Aeroflot’s inaugural flight, SU‑320, were welcomed with cultural performances.

Aeroflot, the flag carrier and largest airline of Russia, has a long history of operations to the Maldives, having first launched flights to the country on 4 August 1994. With Aeroflot’s move, Terminal 1 now serves 39 international airlines.

MACL stated that it remains committed to delivering the highest quality of service to all airlines operating in the Maldives, and that Aeroflot’s transition to Terminal 1 marks another milestone in enhancing VIA’s operational capacity and passenger experience.