Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has revealed the capacity of the arrival terminal of Velana International Airport (VIA) has been reduced to 308 passengers at a time, as part of efforts to practice social distancing.
Speaking to PSM News, General Manager of Corporate Communications Hassan Areef stated the arrival terminal caters to 750 passengers at a time under normal circumstances. He said MACL decided to reduce the capacity of the terminal to practice social distancing and other preventive measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Areef elaborated similar to the arrival terminal, the capacity of the departure terminal has also been reduced from 1,200 to 420. He revealed there will now be a gap of 20 minutes between each flight although previously a flight landed at VIA every 5 minutes. MACL expects the clearance process is to increase due to the social distancing measures enforced.
Furthermore, the general manager stated arrangements at VIA have been modified to meet the current situation, in hope the arrangements ease the travel experience of tourists.