Construction of the domestic airport on Magoodhoo, an island in Faafu Atoll, has moved to the interior fit-out of the passenger terminal. The project, a 30-hectare land reclamation and infrastructure initiative launched in 2022, has continued despite local scepticism regarding its timeline.
The current phase follows an intervention by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. During an official visit to the island last year, residents cited delays amid speculation that the administration might prioritise a competing airfield in neighbouring Nilandhoo. On 21 September, President Muizzu addressed the island’s population of approximately 1,000 residents, providing his assurance that the Magoodhoo airport would be completed within one year.
The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), the state-owned firm overseeing the USD 14.98 million project, confirmed that operations are concentrated on finishing reclamation zones and securing the shoreline. In areas where land expansion is complete, the MTCC has deployed rock boulders for coastal protection to stabilise the terrain.
The terminal building, currently at 48 percent completion, has moved beyond primary structural work to the installation of tiles and interior fixtures. Parallel progress is noted across the facility’s infrastructure: the 1,200-metre runway is 58 percent finished, with foundational layers prepared for asphalt surfacing, while the fire station has reached 67 percent completion.
With the primary shells of these buildings established, the project has transitioned toward technical and aesthetic requirements. The MTCC is currently adjusting its workflow to meet the government’s accelerated schedule and operational standards.