Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Aishath Nahula has revealed Maafaru International Airport in Noonu Atoll will begin operations this year.
Speaking on a programme aired on PSM News, Transport Minister Aishath Nahula stated the delay in the development of the airport is caused as the initial contractor handed over the project to a sub-contractor. The minister revealed during her recent trip to Abu Dhabi, discussions were held regarding the airport and the delays caused, adding focus of the meeting was on swiftly completing the development of the airport.
Moreover, the transport minister said depending on the current speed of development efforts, the airport will be functional during May or June this year. She stated along with the airport in Maafaru, development of other airports is also fast underway, revealing no airport development projects will be completely stopped.
Test flights landed on Maafaru airport in August last year. Although the previous administration revealed commercial operations will begin at Maafaru airport by the end of last year, the operations have not begun so far.
The Maafaru International Airport is developed with facilities to cater A320 and Boeing 737 aircrafts. The runway of the airport is 2,200 metres long and 40 metres wide. The airport is developed with a grant of USD 60 million from Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.