Managing Director of Regional Airports Company Limited (RACL) Ahmed Mubeen has revealed that the project of developing a new runway in Hanimaadhoo International Airport will be fully completed within the upcoming month of May. The remarks were made on a programme aired on PSM News,
The project undertaken for the redevelopment of the airport was launched in January, 2023. The first initiative taken was to establish a new runway of 2,465m in length. Due to the land constraints encountered in both the new runway and the previous runway, a total of 1,200 meters of the new runway was put in operation on January 28, 2024, subsequent to the completion of the initial phase. The runway that was previously utilized has been discontinued. Mubeen disclosed that the construction of 1,400 under the first part of the project has been completed. Efforts are underway to layer with tar the remaining area 600m.
President Dr. Muizzu has pledged to expand the runway of the airport with an additional 700m. This initiative aims to facilitate the anticipated increase in the number of tourist arrivals following the government's decision to increase the bed capacity with 9,000 beds. Mubeen revealed that while previously the runway could cater aircrafts with 150 passengers, the establishment of the new runway will allow the capacity of the runway to accommodate aircrafts with 250 to 300 passengers. He additionally acknowledged the feasibility of the project, highlighting that this development was bound to be advantageous to the island.
The new runway of the airport has been developed to cater the aircrafts scheduled to land during nighttime. The project is considered to be the biggest development initiative launched on the island and is worth up to USD136.6 million. Upon completion of the development, Hanimaadhoo International Airport will have the capability to cater services to 1.3 million passengers annually.