Island Aviation Services Limited (IASL) has revealed plans to develop a transit hotel in Maafaru International Airport.
IASL has announced that it is seeking a consultant for the project to develop a 47-room transit hotel. The hotel is to be developed as a four-star facility.
Speaking to PSM News, General Manager of Maldivian Airports Mumthaz Ali said IASL has acknowledged the importance of a transit facility in the airport as the number of private jets travelling to the airport has increased. Mumthaz added the pilots and crews, as well as tourists, will require a transit facility nearby the airport in case of flight delays and other such situations. He expressed hope work on the hotel will commence within the next three months.
IASL has made several plans for the expansion of Maafaru International Airport, including further developing the passenger terminal and the runway.
Maafaru International Airport was opened for scheduled flights on January 1, 2020. The airport was built from a grant of USD 60 million provided by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD). The airport has a 2,200-metre-long and a 40-metre wide runway and is designed to handle the largest aircraft in operation including the Airbus A380 superjumbo jets.