The new runway built in Velaana International Airport is now operational with the first flight landing earlier today.
The new runway was opened for service today by Vice President Faisal Naseem.
The first flight to land on the new runway was an Emirates aircraft that landed at 7:20 am. The aircraft was greeted with a water salute. With the operationalization of the new runway, the old runway would be used as a taxiway.
It was used for the last time last night when a plane for a Turkish airline took off from the runway that had been in use for the past 60 years.
The new runway at VIA is 3,400 meters long and 65 meters wide.
With the opening of the new runway today, the number of planes landing and departing the main international airport will increase from eight to 20 per hour, which will resolve flight delays by reducing the time required to vacate the runway.
