Regional Airports Company Limited (RACL) has revealed that a segment of the new runway expansion at Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HIA) is set to be operational by January 2024.
Speaking to PSM News, Managing Director of RACL Ahmed Mubeen said that the airport's development is progressing according to the established schedule. He also highlighted the reinforcement of the technical team since assuming his position at the company.
Additionally, Mubeen has stated that the runway expansion at HIA is being carried out in three phases, with ongoing efforts directed at various sections of the runway. He mentioned that upon the completion of 1,200 meters of the new runway, the existing runway is scheduled to close on January 15.
Significant progress has been achieved under the project. Specifically, 29.1% of the Passenger Terminal Building and Jetty Terminal Building work has been completed. In addition, 73.7% completion of pavement and road works and 9% completion of fuel farm and fuel jetty works.
The 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.
The project includes the development of 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.