Vice President Mr Faisal Nasem officially inaugurated the new runway developed in Velana International Airport during the opening ceremony this morning.
The runway is now officially operational following the landing of the first flight; Emirates flight EK656 operated on the Boeing 777-300ER with the Year of the fiftieth livery.
The new runway is 3,400 metres long and 60 metres wide which will allow for larger wide-body aircraft operations.
The construction of the runway was originally finished in 2018 however the runway remained unused due to terminal buildings being in close proximity to the runway which does not provide enough clearance to allow for takeoff and landings.
Earlier this year VIA began the use of the new runway as a taxiway to allow for smoother operation and following the completion of the new seaplane terminal and the complete change over of seaplane operations to the new terminal; the runway was finally commissioned for operation.
The old runway will now be used as a taxiway and all landing aircraft can vacate the runway after landing.