Island Aviation Services Limited (IASL) has revealed the national airlines, Maldivian, will suspend night flights to Hanimaadhoo International Airport from March 1.
IASL stated all flights will be temporarily suspended between 0800-2000hrs from the first day of March due to the development of Hanimaadhoo International Airport. Flights from Hanimaadhoo to Trivandrum in India will also be temporarily suspended following the change. In addition, IASL stated that those who purchase tickets after February 1, are requested to make their flight arrangements through the call centre.
Hanimaadhoo International Airport Development Project is being funded by loan assistance from the EXIM Bank of India and includes major infrastructure and operational upgrades and building infrastructure to meet the future growth of traffic to the Maldives. The project was awarded to India-based JMC Projects Limited in September 2022 at a cost of USD136 million. It includes developing a 2.46km runway to enable larger aircraft such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s to land at the airport. It also includes the construction of a modern terminal to accommodate 1.3 million passengers annually, as well as the construction of a cargo terminal, fuel farms, and a fire station. The project will be completed in 2024 and international flights will start operating directly to the north of the Maldives.
Hanimaadhoo International Airport is located on the island of Hanimaadhoo in Haa Dhaalu Atoll. The airport was upgraded in 2012 to cater to international flights.