Gov’t Blocking Northern Development Despite Hanimaadhoo Airport Upgrade: Fayyaz
Former Minister Fayyaz Ismail stated that Hanimaadhoo International Airport has been developed to accommodate A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft, enabling direct flights from major global destinations. He dismissed the government's claims that the airport cannot handle large aircraft as an obstacle to the development of the north, further noting that investing in wide-body aircraft infrastructure without current demand is economically unsound. Developed with Indian assistance during the MDP administration, the airport is designed to serve 1.3 million passengers annually.
Hanimaadhoo International Airport: Former Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail has stated that the MDP administration developed Hanimaadhoo International Airport to a standard capable of supporting international flight operations. | Atoll Times
Former Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail has stated that Hanimaadhoo International Airport has been developed to a standard capable of handling international flight operations, and claimed that the current administration's failure to utilize the facility is an obstacle to the development of the northern region.
In a post on X, Fayyaz stated that the MDP administration developed Hanimaadhoo International Airport to accommodate Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft. He noted that these aircraft models are capable of operating direct flights to destinations including India, Sri Lanka, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Fayyaz further noted that the infrastructure is now in place for tourists from destinations such as Europe and China to travel to Hanimadhoo via connecting flights from their respective international airports. He explained that since narrow-body aircraft carry the highest volume of passengers globally, investing in wide-body capabilities at a time when demand does not justify it would be economically imprudent. However, he emphasized that land has already been allocated to extend the runway should demand increase in the future.
The Minister of Civil Aviation, Mohamed Ameen, recently stated in Parliament that the absence of international flights to Hanimaadhoo is due to the lack of infrastructure required to accommodate large aircraft on long-haul routes. Responding to these remarks, Fayyaz asserted that leaving the airport underutilized hinders the development of tourism, fisheries, and the logistics sector across the Boduthiladhunmathi region.
Developed under a $136 million credit line from India’s Exim Bank during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration, the airport is designed to accommodate 1.3 million passengers annually. The project features a 2,465-meter runway and a modern 10,300-square-meter terminal. Additionally, the facility includes an apron capable of parking three Airbus aircraft and six ATR aircraft simultaneously.
