The new passenger terminal at HDh. Hanimaadhoo International Airport has officially begun operations, marking a major step forward in the airport’s ongoing redevelopment project.
Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) confirmed that operations were shifted to the new terminal’s ground floor on Thursday. The move is part of efforts to align the airport’s infrastructure with the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority’s standards, allowing Code C aircraft to use the full length of the new runway. To meet clearance requirements, MACL stated that the old terminal and nearby tall structures will be dismantled.
The government has targeted November 2025 to complete all remaining works and inaugurate the airport. During a visit to Hanimaadhoo in August, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to completing the project, describing the airport’s development as vital to enhancing northern connectivity, tourism, and economic activity.
The redevelopment of Hanimaadhoo International Airport is being financed under an USD 800 million line of credit from EXIM Bank of India, signed between the Maldivian government and the bank in 2019. The project was awarded to India’s JMC Projects for USD 136.6 million.
Once complete, the project will feature a 2,400-metre runway, a 42,000 square feet apron, a 10,500 square feet passenger terminal, and a 3,800 square feet air traffic control tower, alongside an arm and fuel jetty. The terminal will have the capacity to handle up to 1.3 million passengers annually.
For residents and businesses in the northern atolls, the airport’s expansion carries significant expectations. Despite having numerous resorts and guesthouses, the region’s tourism potential has long been constrained by high domestic airfare and heavy reliance on travel via Malé. A direct gateway through Hanimaadhoo is seen as a key step towards unlocking the economic opportunities of the north.
