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British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Announce Last Minute Move to Velana Airport’s New Terminal (Finally)
From THIS FRIDAY (24th October), all BA flights will now operate from Velana International Airport (Maldives) Terminal 1. Goodbye, dated terminal 2! Most other airlines have already made the move, and Virgin has also announced a move this Saturday (25th October).
The construction of T1 began back in 2016, was delayed repeatedly, and finally opened on 26th July 2025. The airport has not always been a great experience, but hopefully, now it will be much improved.
We flew through the old terminal last year, and it really was a very average experience, so I’m very happy to see the announcement today, especially as we are flying from there in January.
The new terminal is a much better experience, designed with the luxury of a Maldives trip in mind and has:
- A larger check-in area with 47 counters and 7 self-service kiosks
- A larger baggage claim area
- A modern baggage handling system
- 40 departure gates
- A spacious departure hall with plenty of dining options and a large duty-free area
- Easier boarding via jet bridges
- More passport control points
The 78,000 m² terminal is designed to accommodate more than 7 million passengers each year.
The Koveli Lounge
British Airways passengers are most likely to use the Koveli lounge, which opened last month. It’s a small lounge with a boutique feel and a capacity for 270 people. Virgin has already announced that eligible passengers will be able to access the lounge. I suspect it will get very crowded during peak season, although it’s a major improvement to the T2 Leeli Lounge.
At the moment, access to the T1 check-in counters is via an enclosed walkway which connects from the T2 entrance.
Note: Mobile boarding passes are not accepted at Terminal 1 at immigration, so you’ll need to go to the check-in counters to get a physical one. If you’re connecting to a seaplane or speedboat transfer, the added efficiency at T1 should help, but still build in a buffer for immigration and baggage.
Eventually, this terminal will completely replace Terminal 2. Considering the cost of a trip to the Maldives and its ever-growing popularity, the airport has had a much-needed update.
Air France Winter 2025–26 Schedule Details (Including Another LHR Flight) and New Routes
Air France has just released details of its winter 2025-26 schedule, with two new routes and more flights on a range of short and long-haul routes.
Here’s what you need to know:
New Route to Phuket
Starting Thursday, 27th November 2025, there will be a non-stop route between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Phuket using a Boeing 777-300ER, operating three times per week.
Times will be as follows:
| Flight | Route | Departure | Arrival | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AF156 | Paris – Phuket | 15:50
|
9:25 (+1 day)
|
Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays |
| AF157 | Phuket – Paris | 11:50 | 19:10 | Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays |
There is the potential that this route will continue, but this depends on demand. At present, there are limited direct flights to Phuket from Europe. If you fly with Air France, it usually involves a stop in Delhi, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur.
I found Business Class fares start from £2,841 one-way, and Flying Blue redemptions begin at around 109,000 miles + €434.
New Route to Punta Cana
From Tuesday, 13th January 2026, Air France will launch a direct service between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Punta Cana. There will be three weekly flights on Tuesdays. The Boeing 777-300ER will also operate the route.
Punta Cana will become the 6th Caribbean destination for Air France, joining Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Martin and Havana.
Extra Flight Options for Some Long Haul Routes
Air France is really upping the schedule to some of the most popular destinations, including:
- Orlando – This route, which started in the Summer this year, will continue through winter with 5 weekly flights operated by Airbus A350-900.
- Raleigh-Durham – 7 weekly up from 5
- Cancún – 7 weekly up from 5
- Papeete (via Los Angeles) – 7 weekly up from 5
- Rio de Janeiro – up to 12 weekly flights this winter
- Salvador de Bahia – 5 weekly flights
- San José –10 weekly flights, up from 7 last winter.
- Cape Town – now daily and operated by the Airbus A350-900
- Zanzibar–Kilimanjaro – Increasing from 3 to 5 weekly flights.
- Mauritius – Flights will now be either an Airbus A350-900 or Boeing 777-300ER
- Bangkok – Up to 2 flights per day
- Riyadh – continues with 3 weekly flights
- Dubai – increased to 16 weekly flights, up from 14 last winter
Short Haul Flight Increases
One of the most prominent announcements in the short-haul network is that the Heathrow flights will be increased to 7 per day, with a new 6:30 AM flight added. This will certainly improve onward links.
Air France is going to increase flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and major cities in France, including:
- Toulouse – 11 daily
- Marseille -11 daily
- Nice – 9 daily
Elsewhere in Europe, Air France is also increasing flights to:
- Cork – 4 weekly (in winter)
- Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa – an extra flight per day
- Verona – 5 weekly
- Düsseldorf – 6 weekly
- Munich – 5 daily
- Zurich –4 daily
- Tangier – 3 weekly
- Tenerife – 4 weekly (during the holiday season)
Air France Updates
LPremière
Air France is continuing to add the La Première (First Class) suite to more aircraft. It’s now available on flights to and from New York JFK, Singapore, and Los Angeles, and coming soon to Miami and Tokyo Haneda.
There are also major improvements to the ground experience for La Première Passengers at Los Angeles Airport, including private check-in at a dedicated La Première space, personal assistance and immediate bag drop, a private escort through TSA and security, a car transfer to the aircraft and a faster route to the La Première section of the lounge.
Remember, you need to have Flying Blue Platinum or Ultimate status to book a redemption in First. Read our Flying Blue loyalty programme guide for details.
Wifi
30% of flights will have the new high-speed WIFI by the end of 2025 and 100% by the end of 2026.
Shangri-La Group Resorts in Muscat to Rebrand as Hilton Properties
The Shangri-La-branded resorts in Muscat will be rebranded under the Hilton umbrella from 1st January 2026, following the end of Shangri-La’s 20-year management contract. The handover covers the Shangri‑La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa complex (Al Waha & Al Bandar wings) and the adjoining Shangri‑La Al Husn Resort & Spa. Each hotel will be rebranded under a different Hilton brand, including DoubleTree, Hilton and Waldorf Astoria.
The hotels will not have any interruption for guests or staff, but the loyalty programme will no longer be affiliated with Shangri-La as of 1st January. Bad news if you’re a loyal Shangri-La Circle member with regular trips to Oman. If you’re a Hilton status holder or aspiring to be one, this is excellent news. Hopefully, the hotels will continue to be run at the same standard or better.
During the announcement, it was confirmed that the hotels, despite the rebrand, will “celebrate Omani heritage while embracing innovation and excellence”.
Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah – Al Waha to Become DoubleTree by Hilton Muscat Al Waha
The 262-room Al Waha will become a DoubleTree by Hilton, continuing its family-friendly focus. However, the rebrand to DoubleTree is a big downgrade from Shangri-La. Maybe Hilton will refurbish the hotel, upgrade it, and then rebrand?
Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah – Al Bandar to Become Hilton Muscat Al Bandar
This is still a downgrade compared to Shangri-La, but not as bad as the Al Waha. Under Shangri-La, it was advertised as a Business and conference-friendly option among the Oman options.
Shangri-La Al Husn to Become Waldorf Astoria Al Husn
The most luxurious Shangri-La resort in Oman will hopefully keep to the same standard of luxury once it’s rebranded. It’s currently an adults-only hotel with a private beach and butler service.
There may need to be some renovations before the official ‘Waldorf Astoria’ brand can be given. It will start by operating as an independent hotel.
These hotels are not yet available to book via Hilton, but we will keep you updated once they are!
To learn more about Hilton Honors, make sure you read our guide ‘Is Hilton Honors Right for You?‘. You may also find our hotel status matches guide useful.
