Economic Development Minister Muhammad Saeed have said that the airport plays a huge role in the economic development of Maldives.
In a ceremony held to officially change the name of the airport to Velana International Airport , the minister said that 1.3 million Rufiyaa is invested annually in the development of the airport. He said that once the mega project to develop the airport ends, airport will be the main pillar in economic development of Maldives.
Government is spending over 800 million dollars to develop the airport. A 340-meter-long and a 65 meter wide runway will be developed under the project. In addition a new international terminal and a domestic terminal will be developed as well. After the development, A380s can land at the airport.
Velana International Airport was first called Hulhule’ airport and was later changed to Male’ International Airport in 1981. It was changed to Ibrahim Nasir International Airport in 2011.