95% of the new seaplane terminal project has been completed, the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has revealed.
Taking to Twitter to reveal updates of the project, MACL revealed that 80% of the phase one docks at the new seaplane terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA) have been completed.
Further, the company revealed that 90% of internal work has been completed and 95% of the total project has been completed.
They are currently working on the fuel lines for the docks at the terminal, said MACL.
A total of 3.5 hectares of land was reclaimed for the project, which is being developed by one of China’s renowned construction companies, Beijing Urban Construction Group for a total of USD 40 million.
MACL earlier revealed that the new seaplane terminal will be completed in late 2019, however, due to several issues, the project has been long drawn out.
The new terminal will add more than 80 seaplane docking platforms and increase the floor area, lounge, and boarding gate by 50%. Further, the installment of escalators inside the terminal was completed in early 2019, along with the installation of air conditioning and to plant electrical wiring and plumbing.
While Maldives has the largest seaplane fleet across the globe, the new terminal measures three times bigger than the current seaplane terminal. The new terminal measures 28,000 square meters.
The current seaplane terminal provides service for up to 2,000 travelers a day and has over 60 operating sea planes.