Work has progressed on a key section of Velana International Airport’s airside infrastructure, with Phase 3 of the Taxiway Charlie redevelopment now underway as part of a wider effort to support operational capacity and efficiency.
Maldives Airports Company Limited stated that the current phase covers the redevelopment of approximately 1,100 metres of Taxiway Charlie. The works form part of a four-phase project awarded to Beijing Urban Construction Group in October 2024, with construction having begun in April 2025. Completion of the third phase is scheduled for October 2026.
The redevelopment is positioned within a broader infrastructure programme aimed at maintaining safety standards and supporting long-term growth in aircraft movements at the airport. Upgrades to taxiway systems are considered central to improving ground operations, particularly as traffic levels continue to expand alongside tourism and connectivity.
Taxiway Charlie itself carries operational and historical significance within the airport’s development. Originally constructed in 1976 as the airport’s first runway, it was later upgraded in 1981 to accommodate wide-body aircraft and extended multiple times in response to increasing demand.
The structure sustained damage during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and required ongoing maintenance in the years that followed. With the commissioning of the new Code F runway in October 2022, the original runway was repurposed into Taxiway Charlie, allowing it to remain integrated into the airport’s operational framework.
