The increasing traffic has been contributing many challenges for slots/parking at Velana International Airport in recent years; will the newly completed 55,300 square meter apron be sufficient to meet the demands for this year's busy season for general aviation and business aviation traffic?

I do not think it will be sufficient to cater the busy season this year. However, it is expected to meet the demands of next year.

Increasing luggage belts, moving Immigration upstairs, or with a new terminal will only ease the existing operations. Only the parking space will not make much difference if these services are not in place. It is expected to make things more convenient by 2020 with a new terminal as per the airport development plans. In addition, it is important that MACL manage the ground handling services of all terminals of prominent service and in a security perspective.

How does it serve the purpose only by increasing the parking space? For meaningful improvement, the terminal capacity should be expanded too.

It all depends on movements! Why cant the second runway be operational and the new area be utilized, and proceed with the terminal later?

Increase in the scheduled and charter airlines were a challenge to general aviation since the airport restricted GA operations on Sundays and Thursday during 0900LT-1100LT due to the high demand of scheduled and charter operations.

We as the largest private aviation ground handler do not expect parking difficulties this year. This year, we are also expecting a 10% increase in commercial flights. There has been a 3% increase so far this year in private aviation operations to Malé. The newly completed apron area would be sufficient to meet the demands for this winter, and even during the peak period between Dec 2019 and Jan 2020. In the past few years, we have managed by utilizing Maamigili airport as an alternative space for parking, during shortages faced in at Malé.