The new passenger terminal at Hanimaadhoo International Airport is slated for completion by July, according to Regional Airports Company Limited (RACL) Managing Director Ahmed Mubeen. The upgrade is part of a wider redevelopment effort expected to conclude by the end of the year, with 83 percent of the project already completed.
Speaking to state media, Regional Airports Company Limited (RACL) Managing Director Ahmed Mubeen stated that the airport redevelopment is moving forward steadily, with over 800 workers engaged in the construction. Mubeen indicated that the first phase, which includes the new terminal, is expected to be completed by July, with the full project scheduled to conclude by the end of the year.
The redevelopment, launched in January 2023, is being carried out by India’s JMC Projects. It includes a new terminal, a 2.46-kilometre runway, a utility building, fuel farm, and an airport jetty. The design of the terminal is inspired by the manta ray and features a two-storey layout, with domestic operations on the ground floor and international operations on the first. The airport will also introduce the first aero bridge in an atoll airport, with two gates on each level.
A major milestone in the project was reached earlier this year when a 1,200-metre section of the new runway was opened on 28 January. This was necessitated by operational conflicts between the existing and new runways. Once fully complete, the runway will support aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, allowing direct international flights to Hanimaadhoo.
The USD 136.6 million project is one of the most significant infrastructure investments in the atolls and is expected to greatly enhance the economic prospects of the northern Maldives. With a projected passenger capacity of 1.3 million annually, the upgraded airport is poised to boost connectivity and support the region’s growing tourism sector.
In a future phase of development, a dedicated seaplane terminal is also planned, further enhancing the airport’s capacity and versatility.
