Island Aviation Services Limited (IASL) has announced COVID-19 testing facilities will be arranged in Maafaru International Airport by the Soneva Group.
Managing Director of IASL Mohamed Rizvee revealed the Soneva Group has launched a project in Maafaru to develop a laboratory to conduct PCR tests. He added the development of the laboratory will be completed and operational by next week.
Furthermore, the managing director of the state-owned enterprise said tourists will undergo PCR tests at the airports before departing to the respective resorts. He noted establishing means to test for COVID-19 in Maafaru will increase the number of arrivals.
Meanwhile, IASL has announced Maafaru will be run as an international airport when operations begin on July 1. IASL said the required changes are being made to ensure the full functioning of international operations at Maafaru.
The airport was built from a grant of USD 60 million provided by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD). The airport has a 2,200-metre-long and a 40-metre wide runway and is designed to handle the largest aircraft in operation including the Airbus A380 super jumbo jets.