The government has initiated renovation efforts at Kooddoo Airport after national carrier Maldivian halted its flights to the island due to the deteriorating condition of the runway.
Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Mohamed Ameen, took to social media platform X to explain that Maldivian was forced to stop services after runway issues caused damage to two of the airline’s planes. He highlighted that maintenance work at the airport had been neglected for a significant period, resulting in safety concerns for both the aircraft and passengers.
In response, the Ministry, in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority and the airport operator, has begun repair work to restore the runway and ensure safer operations. Minister Ameen expressed confidence that the renovation project would be completed soon, allowing for the resumption of regular flights.
Ali Saleem, Deputy Managing Director of Island Aviation, previously confirmed the suspension of flights, citing the poor state of the runway and apron as the main reason. He stressed that the decision was made to avoid further damage to the fleet and potential safety risks to passengers.
Kooddoo Airport, which initially opened in 2012, underwent a significant upgrade in 2017, with the expansion of its runway to accommodate larger aircraft and jets. The current renovation efforts aim to bring the facility back to a safe operational standard and ensure continued service to the island once the repairs are finalised.
