Parliamentarian for Hoarafushi Constituency Ahmed Saleem states the Hoarafushi Airport is a developmental success for Haa Alifu Atoll. He made the remarks while speaking at the function held to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Hoarafushi Airport.
Speaking at the event, Parliamentarian Saleem said the opening of the airport has opened the door for further development in the atoll and has reinvigorated Hoarafushi. The parliamentarian said the airport has provided more job opportunities, resulting in many Hoarafushi residents living in Male' City returning to the island. He said some individuals had been skeptical of developing an airport on the island but that they have been proven wrong. He also highlighted the difficulties of travel to the island before the opening of the airport and detailed the dangers of sea travel during rainy weather.
Hoarafushi Airport is the first certified regional airport under the Regional Airport Company Limited. The airport was inaugurated in November 2020 by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
The development of Hoarafushi Airport was contracted to Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) in early 2019.
The dredging and reclamation required for the airport were completed in August 2019 and the construction of revetment and shore protection around the airport was completed in March 2020. The project also included the construction of a 1,200 metre runway, an 8,000 square-metre apron and taxiway, service roads, a parking area, fire access roads, a passenger terminal, and a fire building.