The airport underdevelopment in Magoodhoo, Faafu Atoll, has officially been handed over to Regional Airports Company Limited (RACL) for operational management.
The airport development project in Magoodhoo has been contracted to the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), with an allocated budget of USD15 million. The project includes the construction of a fuel farm for aircraft refueling, a fire station complete with taxiway apron, firepad, a passenger terminal, and a control tower.
MTCC initially developed a 1,200-metre runway at the airport. However, a decision has been made to expand it to 1,800m, with the expansion currently in progress. The construction of the fire building at the airport has been successfully completed and the passenger terminal structure is also finalised. In addition, MTCC is undertaking land reclamation, reclaiming 48 hectares of land, of which 30 hectares are designated for airport development and an extra 17 hectares for social and economic purposes. A total of 3,300m will be preserved as an environmentally protected area.
Faafu Atoll is one of the few atolls without domestic airports. The atoll consists of 19 islands, out of which five are inhabited, and has one resort with five more under development. The development of Magoodhoo Airport is expected to have a significant positive economic impact on the region.