Request made to land jets at Kudahuvadhoo Airport

Transport Ministry has revealed that a request has been received to land jets at Dh. Kudahuvadhoo Airport.

The permission will be granted after receiving operator's certificate and upon fulfilling other requirements to upgrade the airport according to the Transport Ministry.

Renowned businessman and politician Qasim Ibrahim’s Villa Air has requested to grant permission to bring Adh. Maamigili Airport to international status and for landing private jets. The permission will also be granted after receiving operations certificate and fulfilling the requirements, said the Ministry.

Responding to a question raised by an MP at the Government Oversight Committee of the parliament, Minister Aishath Nahula had previously stated that in the current health crisis it would be more advantageous to internationalise more airports.

Maamigili Airport was internationalised in 2013 during the administration of President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik. The permit was cancelled by President Yameen Abdul Qayyoom’s administration.

Minister Nahula had revealed that Villa Air had requested approval to operate international flights at Maamingili Airport and they are looking to into the matter. Nahula said even though the airport was previously internationalised, it was halted for several years and had been operating as a domestic airport. Thus, there are aspects that have to be looked into before issuing the permit.

The Minister said it is hoped the permissions could be granted in time to resume tourism operation in the Maldives. The Maldives closed its borders to tourists in March as a precautionary measure against COVID-19.