Maldivian to resume Kooddoo flights after runway fix, minister says
Maldivian, which is the only airline servicing the Kooddoo route, halted flights to the airport on Friday.
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The national airline, Maldivian, has suspended flights to GA. Kooddoo airport for repairs and will resume operations soon, transport minister Mohamed Ameen announced Saturday.
Maldivian, which is the only airline servicing the Kooddoo route, halted flights to the airport on Friday.
Ameen shared a post on his ‘X’ account, explaining the situation:
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Maldivian decided to suspend flights to Kooddoo due to the long-term lack of repairs at the airport and the current condition of the runway.
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He added that, under the initiative of the transport ministry, efforts are now underway to address the issue. The Civil Aviation Authority, the airport operator, and other relevant parties have begun working to resolve the matter.
“Hopefully, the problem will be resolved very soon, and the airport will be brought back to normal,” Ameen said.
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.
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