The Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed announced that the government has begun discussions to relocate the current seaplane terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA) to the nearby Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort.
The move comes as part of a visionary 20-year mega project to develop the main air gateway into an international hub.
Speaking to PSM News, Minister Saeed said the existing state-of-the-art seaplane terminal will be repurposed to cater private jets, while the seaplane landing platform at the airport right now, will be reclaimed making way for a new terminal for domestic and low-cost carriers.
Maldives, over the more recent years, has observed a surge in private jet arrivals bringing in high-class and affluent visitors; making it instrumental to establish an exclusive jet terminal.
As per the plans, the new terminal at the Full Moon Resort will feature numerous facilities, including top-class accommodation for tourists waiting for their flights to resort and back to the country.
The Full Moon Resort is located north of VIA, and the plans include new connectivity between Full Moon and the airport.
While the island nation is the largest plane hub, with its multi-billion-dollar project, the new 20-year master plan aims for the primary air gateway to cater to 25 million passengers annually – which is 4,000 passengers per hour.