Hanimaadhoo International Airport on Track for September Completion, Minister Confirms
Construction of Hanimaadhoo International Airport underway | Photo: Abdulla Muththalib via X
The Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure, Dr Abdulla Muthalib, has announced that 88.7 per cent of the Hanimaadhoo International Airport project is complete, with the work on track for full completion by September this year.
The development of Hanimaadhoo International Airport, financed through the India Exim Bank Line of Credit, remains on track for completion by September 2025. The overall progress stands at 88.7%, with runway construction fully completed. The passenger terminal has reached 83%… pic.twitter.com/vLbXd5NnDs
— Abdulla Muththalib (@muththo) July 1, 2025advertisement
The airport’s development is financed through a USD 800 million line of credit provided by India’s EXIM Bank, following an agreement signed with the Maldivian government in 2019.
The project, regarded as vital to improving connectivity for northern Maldivians, includes the construction of a 42,000 square foot apron, a 2,400-metre runway, a 10,500 square foot passenger terminal, and a 3,800 square foot air traffic control tower, in addition to an arm and fuel jetty. Once operational, the terminal will be able to handle up to 1.3 million passengers annually.
According to an update shared by Dr Muthalib on X on Tuesday, the runway is fully completed, the passenger terminal is 83 per cent complete, and the air traffic control tower, hangar, and cargo building are 96 per cent complete.
Currently, resorts and guesthouses in the northern atolls depend heavily on Malé for guest transfers, which increases travel costs for visitors. Airfares between Malé and northern islands such as Hanimaadhoo can cost the equivalent of a week’s stay at a guesthouse near the capital, affecting demand for tourism services in the region. The government expects that once Hanimaadhoo International Airport is completed and operational, it will help address these challenges and boost tourism in the north.
India’s JMC Projects was contracted to deliver the airport’s development for USD 136.6 million. The company has a broad portfolio in engineering and construction.
Originally developed during the administration of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Hanimaadhoo Airport was initially a domestic facility. It was converted to international status in 2012, although its international services have so far been limited to weekly flights to Trivandrum in India.
