The first test flight has landed at the newly developed Madivaru Airport in Lhaviyani Atoll.
The test flight from the national airline, Maldivian, landed at the airport at 0950hrs on December 25. The flight crew and technical team were greeted at a ceremony by Minister of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof and Managing Director of Kurehdhoo Holdings Private Limited Mohamed Moosa. In addition, parliamentarians and senior government officials were also present at the ceremony.
The government contracted Kurehdhoo Holdings to develop a domestic airport in Madivaru in 2018. The company contracted Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) to complete the fieldwork for the project.
Madivaru Airport consists of a 1,200-metre runway, terminal, aircraft parking area, and a fire building. Kurehdhoo Holdings is making final preparations and is currently seeking a contractor to operate the airport.
The project is part of the government's pledge to establish airports within 30 minutes of every inhabited island in the Maldives. This is the first airport to be developed in Lhaviyani Atoll, which consists of four islands and a population of 13,000 residents. The atoll also consists of a large number of resorts, with more being developed.
Madivaru Airport is expected to greatly ease travel for residents, and increase tourist arrivals to the atoll.