Court issues preliminary injunction halting Kaadehdhoo Airport agreement cancellation
Government had attempted to take the airport from Villa Air in 2014
Qasim Ibrahim with former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
Civil Court has issued a preliminary injunction against the Tourism Ministry’s decision to reclaim Gaafu Dhaalu Kaadehdhoo Airport from Villa Air, owned by the leader of Jumhooree Party, Qasim Ibrahim.
Villa Air, who came to an agreement with the government in November 2013 to develop and run Kaadehdhoo Airport, was informed of the government’s decision to cancel the agreement on January 18.
According to the Tourism Ministry, the agreement was cancelled due to various violations of the Civil Aviation regulations.
Villa Air filed a case at the Civil Court, after being issued the notice cancelling the agreement between the company and Regional Airports, seeking to halt all the preparations to cancel the agreement, until the Court reaches a verdict.
According to the agreement between the Villa Air and the government, the company was awarded the contract to run Kaadehdhoo Airport for 50 years.
Back in August 2014, the company received a notice attempting to cancel the agreement, after JP decided to leave the government coalition. While the court had issued a preliminary injunction then as well, the government decided to return the airport to Villa air.
Also around that time, Maamigilli Airport, also run by Villa Air, was turned in to a domestic airport.
Villa Air’s Managing Director, Rilwan Shareef said that the claims made that the Kaadehdhoo Airport was being run against Civil Aviation regulations “is false.”
