President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has announced the redevelopment of Gan International Airport (GIA) in Addu City will begin in February. He made the announcement while delivering the Presidential Address at the Parliament of the Maldives.
In his address, President Solih said the two largest airport development projects outside the Greater Male' Region are underway. As such, the president mentioned the progress of Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HIA) and GIA, noting the work of the HIA has commenced and the aim is to complete the new runway in the last quarter of the year. He added GIA will be handed over for upgradation in February this year.
The government has stated the development of GIA is crucial to the development of the tourism industry and other businesses in the southern region of the Maldives. The project aims to develop GIA to serve 1.5 million passengers per year through the line of credit extended by the Exim Bank. The project includes the construction of a new domestic terminal, control tower, and fire station, as well as upgrading and renewing the current terminal, duty-free shops, and restaurants. It also includes paving a new path that leads to the airport, as well as installing solar panels. The estimated cost of the project is USD17 million.
In addition, the HIA redevelopment is expected to revolutionise the economy of the northern atolls. The project is being funded by loan assistance from the EXIM Bank of India and includes major infrastructure and operational upgrades and building infrastructure to meet the future growth of traffic to the Maldives. The project was awarded to India-based JMC Projects Limited in September 2022 at a cost of USD136 million. It includes developing a 2.46km runway to enable larger aircraft such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s to land at the airport. It also includes the construction of a modern terminal to accommodate 1.3 million passengers annually, as well as the construction of a cargo terminal, fuel farms, and a fire station. The project will be completed in 2024 and international flights will start operating directly to the north of the Maldives.