New Hanimaadhoo airport terminal opens for passenger operations

The new passenger terminal at HDh. Hanimaadhoo International Airport has opened for operations.

The airport development project, financed through a credit line from the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank), began during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. By the end of his term, most of the work on the project had been completed.

The government has since been working to finalise the remaining work and commence operations. The terminal was officially opened on Thursday.

The Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), which operates the airport, said temporary operations were moved to the ground floor of the new terminal on the same day. The company said this marks a significant step towards achieving the project’s goal of accommodating code aircraft under the ongoing airport development.

According to MACL, the shift in operations was carried out to allow the safe demolition of structures within restricted areas, facilitating the expansion of the runway to meet Civil Aviation Authority standards.

The Hanimaadhoo International Airport project, valued at USD 136 million (approximately MVR 2 billion), is being implemented under the Indian credit line. The project includes a 2.46-kilometre runway, a new passenger terminal capable of handling 1.3 million passengers annually, and an aerobridge to support A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft operations.