The new passenger terminal at Hanimaadhoo International Airport will be completed by July, Regional Airports Company Limited (RACL) Managing Director Ahmed Mubeen has said.
The entire modernisation project is expected to be completed by the end of this year as the project entails several other upgrades to the airport.
The project, launched in January 2023, is being executed by JMC Projects, India. Alongside the runway and terminal, construction includes a utility building, fuel farm, and airport jetty.
The airport development includes the construction of a 2.46km runway, enabling larger aircraft such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s to land.
The construction of the new runway began in January 2023 as part of the Hanimaadhoo International Airport Redevelopment Project. The runway itself was the first major focus, with a new length of 2,465 meters. However, due to conflicts between the old and new runways, the first phase of the project developed a 1,200-meter section of the new runway, which was opened on January 28 this year.
While the previous runway could accommodate 150-seater aircraft, the new runway is designed to handle larger planes with capacities of 250-300 passengers. The project is valued at USD 136.6 million and is one of the largest in the atolls of the country. The airport is expected to handle up to 1.3 million passengers annually and accommodate Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft for international flights, enabling direct routes to Hanimaadhoo from around the world.
The Hanimaadhoo International Airport development is closely linked with the tourism industry and the economy of the atoll, promising significant regional benefits upon completion.
Providing the latest update on the project, Mubeen told PSM News that 83 percent of the entire project has been completed.
Relevant government agencies are working round the clock to expedite the project, he said, adding that more than 800 staff are working on the airport project.
"We are working to complete the first part of the project in July. As this is a multi-part project we expect the entire project to be completed by the end of the year," Mubeen explained.
The structure of the terminal - the design inspired by the Manta Ray at Hanimaadhoo International Airport is almost complete.
The two-storey terminal building’s lowest floor is reserved for domestic flights. The first floor will be used for international flights. The first aero bridge used in an airport in the Atolls will also be located at Hanimadu Airport with two gates on each floor.
Under the second phase of development, a seaplane terminal is also planned for Hanimaadhoo Airport.