Maldivian suspends flights to Kooddoo over poor runway

Maldivian, the national airline and the sole carrier operating flights to GA. Kooddoo Airport, has decided to suspend services to the airport due to unsafe runway conditions.

This decision comes after years of neglect and repeated concerns raised by the airport staff over the deteriorating quality of the runway.

A senior official at Kooddoo Airport confirmed that the last flight to Kooddoo will be on Friday evening, after which Maldivian will halt operations. 

"The airline has informed us that they will not be flying to the airport due to the poor quality of the runway," said the official.

Airport employees have shared that the runway at Kooddoo Airport has not undergone any major repairs or maintenance in the past seven years, leading to severe wear and tear.

"The stones on the runway have come loose, causing damage to two Maldivian aircraft already. Every time a plane lands, we have to clean the runway and remove the stones," an employee revealed, stressing that their repeated requests for repairs have gone unanswered.

As a result of this situation, passengers who had already purchased tickets for flights to Kooddoo will be rerouted to flights departing from the nearest available airport. 

At the time of writing, neither Maldivian nor the management of Kooddoo Airport has issued an official statement addressing the issue. 

However, it is expected that the airline and authorities will need to take swift action to restore operations to the airport, which is a key gateway for both locals and tourists in the region.