Velana Airport to relocate all domestic operations to Terminal 2

Velana International Airport (VIA) is preparing to relocate all domestic flight operations to the refurbished Terminal 2, marking a major operational shift under Maldives Airports Company Limited’s (MACL) ongoing airport development program. The move follows structural upgrades and systems integration work to repurpose the former international terminal for domestic passenger handling.

Once the transition is activated, all domestic departures and arrivals will move from the existing Domestic Terminal which will subsequently be decommissioned to the larger, modernised Terminal 2. The reconfigured facility features expanded check‑in counters, upgraded security screening lanes, improved baggage‑handling systems and a more spacious departure concourse designed to support higher peak‑hour throughput.

The relocation is widely seen as a necessary operational step. The current Domestic Terminal has faced chronic congestion during peak travel periods, with limited seating, narrow passenger‑flow areas and restricted gate capacity creating bottlenecks for both travellers and airlines. With domestic traffic continuing to rise driven by resort transfers, inter‑atoll connectivity and increased tourism demand the existing facility has struggled to maintain smooth throughput. Terminal 2’s larger footprint and upgraded systems are expected to significantly improve flow management, reduce queuing pressure and support more predictable turnaround performance for operators.

All three domestic airlines, Maldivian, Manta Air and Villa Air will operate from Terminal 2 once the shift takes effect, benefiting from increased gate availability, improved apron access and enhanced passenger processing capability. The move is expected to ease congestion, streamline operations and improve apron utilisation, particularly during peak resort‑transfer periods when domestic feeder traffic is at its highest.

As photos of the refurbished interior circulated informally on social media, some users commented that elements of the colour palette resembled colours associated with the People's National Congress (PNC) political party. Others dismissed the comparison, viewing the design as a standard refurbishment choice by MACL rather than a political statement.

The Terminal 2 relocation forms a key component of MACL’s broader airport development strategy, which includes runway expansion, apron reconfiguration and the full commissioning of VIA’s new international Terminal 1. Repurposing the former international terminal for domestic operations allows VIA to optimise both landside and airside capacity ahead of projected traffic growth.