All Airports in the Maldives to Remain Under State Control, Says Minister
Maldivian authorities denied reports of involving Indian firms in Hanimaadhoo Airport management | Photo: MACL
The government has denied reports by an Indian media outlet claiming that it sought assistance from Indian companies to manage the operations of Hanimaadhoo International Airport following its inauguration.
All airports in the Maldives, both international and domestic, are managed and operated by Maldives Civil Aviation Authourity approved Maldivian operators.
The Government remains firmly committed to keeping airport operations under national institutions.advertisement
Hanimaadhoo International Airport was officially inaugurated on November 9 after a major redevelopment carried out with India’s assistance. The project was financed through a USD 800 million line of credit from India’s EXIM Bank under an agreement signed in 2019 during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The inauguration ceremony was attended by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and India’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, who represented the Indian Prime Minister.
On Wednesday, Indian newspaper The Hindu reported that India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, at the request of the Maldivian government, had asked the Airports Authority of India to study a proposal to engage Indian companies to manage the airport. The report stated that the request was made by President Muizzu during Minister Naidu’s visit to the Maldives and cited a senior ministry official as its source.
Responding to queries yesterday, Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen denied the report and stated that the current administration would not hand over the operations of Hanimaadhoo International Airport, or any other airport in the Maldives, to a foreign company.
He said the airport would be operated by the government, while airlines from other countries would be permitted to operate in accordance with established policies. He also confirmed that airport operations were progressing as planned and that international airlines were now able to commence services to Hanimaadhoo.
Similar claims that the Maldivian government had sought India’s assistance to manage the airport have surfaced previously and were also denied at the time by Economic Development and Trade Minister Mohamed Saeed.
The redevelopment of Hanimaadhoo International Airport, which was originally constructed 39 years ago, was awarded to India’s JMC Projects at a cost of USD 136.6 million. Before the upgrade, the airport was only capable of handling ATR Dash aircraft.
The upgraded facility now features a 2,465-metre runway capable of accommodating narrow-body aircraft, a 10,300-square-metre passenger terminal designed to serve up to 1.3 million passengers annually, a fuel farm, a cargo terminal, and the Maldives’ first aerobridge at an atoll airport.
