The development of Hanimaadhoo International Airport is well underway, with the new runway ready for tarring.
An official from the Regional Airports Company, which operates the airport, has confirmed that the ABC layer is being laid in preparation for tarring and said that the runway is expected to be fully tarred by the end of August. As part of plans to upgrade the terminal buildings, fire buildings and other airport facilities are also being procured, he said.
Despite the scale of the project, the official has confirmed that the work is progressing as planned and on schedule.
JMC Projects Limited of India was awarded the contract for the development of the airport in September 2022, with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar kicking off the project on January 18, 2023. The project will expand the existing 1.8 km runway at Hanimaadhoo Airport to an impressive 2.24 km, making it capable of handling Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft used for international flights. Additionally, a new terminal building will be constructed to handle an annual passenger capacity of 1.3 million.
To support the airport's expansion, a 2,461 metric tonne oil storage facility will also be built. With these upgrades, Hanimaadhoo Airport is set to become a hub for international travel.
