Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has called to solve the dispute between Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) and Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) over the lease of new seaplane terminal space on conditions agreeable to both parties.
In a tweet, Nasheed called to sort the dispute following the demand from TMA to lease the space MACL previously agreed verbally.
Ministry of Finance revealed the space TMA gets will be equivalent to the space it currently has at the seaplane terminal in Velana International Airport (VIA).
TMA currently operates in a space of 5,300 square feet and MACL plans to award the same space from the newly developed 16-thousand square feet terminal developed at a cost of USD 26 million. TMA is leasing the terminal for USD 10.35 per square metre.
Speaker Nasheed said the terminal dispute must be sorted soon as MACL plans to open the second runway for operation and better the services provided at VIA. He also said investigating the case, identifying any wrongdoings in awarding the terminal and prosecuting those responsible is another matter.
Parliamentarian Yauqoob Abdulla has said he will submit a motion to the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts to investigate the decision of the government to award the space TMA has been given for its operations.
Speaking at the committee, senior officials from TMA had said it has been continuing terminal development project with MACL since 2014. TMA said MACL has communicated terminal lees fees and space in various letters and emails sent.
TMA said it expects MACL to provide the company with the rates and space agreed formerly. TMA has also agreed to a lounge space of 13,000 square metres, following discussions with resorts. TMA further said it will be able to generate a better profit than MACL by running the terminal.