The Government of Maldives, on Friday, has denied reports by Indian media outlet claiming it has sought assistance from Indian companies to manage the operations of HDh. Hanimaadhoo International Airport which recently inaugurated after major redevelopment carried out with India’s assistance.
Hanimaadhoo International Airport, upgraded to modern standards through a USD 800 million line of credit from India’s EXIM Bank under a 2019 agreement signed during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration, was officially inaugurated on November 9 by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s representative, India’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu.
A prominent Indian media outlet, ‘The Hindu’, on Wednesday, reported that India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, at the request of the Maldivian government, has asked the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to study a proposal for “engaging Indian companies” for the management of Hanimaadhoo International Airport. According to the report, the request was made by President Muizzu during Minister Naidu’s visit to the Maldives for the airport’s inauguration. The media outlet cited a senior official from the Ministry as its source.
Aerial view of Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HIA), on the eve of inauguration after redevelopment, November 9, 2025. (Photo/MACL)
When questioned by Sun regarding the matter on Friday, Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen denied the report, citing that the current administration will not hand over the operations of Hanimaadhoo International Airport, or any other airport in the Maldives, to a foreign company.
“Hanimaadhoo Airport will be run by the government. Airlines from other nations will operate to the airport in line with the stipulated policies. However, the operations of the airport will not be handed over to a company of any foreign nation,” he said.
The Minister affirmed that the operations of Hanimaadhoo Airport are well underway, with the opportunity now open for international airlines to commence operation to the airport.
Similar reports claiming the Maldivian government has sought India’s assistance to manage the operations of Hanimaadhoo International Airport have surfaced previously as well, whic were denied by Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed.
The redevelopment of Hanimaadhoo International Airport which was constructed 39 years ago was awarded to India’s JMC Projects for USD 136.6 million. Prior to the redevelopment of the airport, it was only capable of accommodating ATR Dash aircrafts.
The upgraded airport includes a 2,465-metre runway capable of handling narrow-body aircraft, a 10,300-square-metre terminal designed to serve 1.3 million passengers annually, a fuel farm, cargo terminal, and the Maldives’ first aerobridge at an atoll airport.