INIA re-branded as Velana International Airport

Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) has been officially re-branded as Velana International Airport.

At a special ceremony held at Hulhulé last night, the re-branding was inaugurated by President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

The first plane to land after the re-branding was a Maldivian Airbus.

The decision to re-brand was made at a cabinet meeting on 26 December 2016.

President’s Office said that INIA is being re-branded to Velana because the name represents the Maldivian brand image and it is easy which in turn would lead to progress and developmental thinking.

A statement from the President’s Office said that the current name of the airport is in the honor of the late President Ibrahim Naasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefaanu, who was a key figure in acquiring the political independence of the country and has done numerous work for the development of the country and the name “Velana” belongs to him. And to keep the name of the airport in his honor, the President and the cabinet decided to re-brand with Velana.