The development of Hanimaadhoo International Airport is set to be completed by March next year, according to Regional Airports Managing Director, Ahmed Mubeen. The airport, which features a 2,465-metre runway, has made significant progress with 1,200 metres of the runway already operational since January.
Speaking to local media Mubeen confirmed that the new runway under the Hanimaadhoo International Airport Development Project is now complete and will be fully operational after the Eid holidays. This new runway is designed to accommodate A320 aircraft, enhancing the airport’s capacity and functionality.
The Hanimaadhoo International Airport project is closely linked to the economic development of Greater Thiladhunmathi, particularly benefiting the tourism sector in the northern Maldives. The project, which began in January last year, has reached a crucial milestone with the completion of the full runway. Final preparations are currently underway to ensure that the entire runway can be used following the Eid holidays.
“We are developing a passenger terminal that can cater to 1.5 million tourists. The runway is now complete, and we are working to open the entire runway for 24 hours after the Eid holidays,” Mubeen explained.
Mubeen noted that the entire project is expected to be completed by the end of this year, with the first phase officially wrapping up by March next year. Collaborative efforts with various agencies, including the Ministry of Tourism and northern resorts, are in place to ensure tourists can travel directly to Hanimaadhoo International Airport, bypassing Velana International Airport (VIA).
“Tourists heading to resorts in the north currently have to travel to VIA and take another seaplane. This development is a cost-saving measure for tourists and a significant opportunity to promote tourism in the north,” Mubeen elaborated.
The government is committed to completing the first phase of the Hanimaadhoo International Airport and promptly commencing the second phase. The second phase will include the development of a seaplane terminal, enabling direct seaplane transfers from Hanimaadhoo to the resorts, further boosting the region’s tourism potential.
The completion of Hanimaadhoo International Airport is anticipated to greatly enhance the connectivity and economic prospects of the northern Maldives, positioning it as a vital hub for tourism and travel.
