Velana International Airport (VIA) begins work on joining the existing runway with the developing one.
An official from Maldives Airports Company Ltd (MACL) stated that the work was done from 12 am to 6 am every day and the runway was closed during this period. All airlines have been informed of the runway closure time.
“Works for the connecting taxiway between the new runway and the existing runway is done very close to the current runway. We have been proceeding with the works for a while now, and as such, the runway has remained closed during this period between 12 am and 6 am”, said the official for MACL.
The new runway will have a length of 3,400 meters and will be 60 meters wide. A USD 400 million loan has been granted by the Exim Bank of China. In addition to the new runway, the loan will also finance a fuel farm which can store up to 45 million-liters of fuel and a 120,000-ton cargo facility.
The new runway is set to open at the end of 2018.
