Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has begun tarring the new runway of Velana International Airport (VIA).
Tarring of the first layer has begun, the asphalt layer will be completed within a month, depending on the weather, Managing Director of MACL Adil Moosa revealed while speaking to media. Two more layers will be laid upon completion of the asphalt layer, the Managing Director said, adding the development of the new runway will conclude upon completion of tarring.
The new 3,400 metre by 60 metre runway can accommodate world's largest passenger airliner Airbus A380. The new runway is part of a billion dollar mega project to expand and upgrade the main gateway of Maldives to cater to at least seven million passengers per year.
MACL has decided to allocate the current runway to a taxi way once the new runway comes into operation.