Saudia has started flights from the new Terminal 1 at Velana International Airport (VIA), boosting air travel between the Maldives and Saudi Arabia.
The first flight took off on October 20, 2025. A special ceremony marked the occasion, attended by State Minister of Tourism and Environment Mohamed Nashath Rasheed, Saudi Ambassador Yahya Hassan Al Gahtani, and senior officials from Saudia and MACL.
Saudia opened new check-in counters at the terminal. Fifty-seven passengers received welcome gifts. The first flight, SV838, carried 127 passengers and was greeted with cultural performances.
Saudia, the national airline of Saudi Arabia, began flights to the Maldives in 2016. It is now the 11th airline operating from Terminal 1 and the first from Saudi Arabia.
MACL said the milestone reflects its goal to deliver world class services and strengthen Maldives’ global air connectivity.
