Island Aviation Services (IASL) has opened a fuel farm at Maafaru International Airport.
This is the first fuel farm by the company. The fuel farm, which can store 400,000 liters of oil at a time, is financed by the Maldives Islamic Bank.
The fuel farm was inaugurated by Island Aviation Managing Director Mohamed Mihad and Maldives Islamic Bank Managing Director and CEO Mufaddal Idris Khumri at a ceremony held at Maafaru Airport on Tuesday.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mihad said the fuel farm will make Maafaru International Airport an important hub in Maldives.
The fuel farm will allow foreign airlines to operate direct flights to Maafaru Airport, he noted.
Island Aviation Managing Director Mohamed Mihad. -- Photo: Mirash Nashim/ Adhadhu
Island Aviation said the project will significantly increase the operational capacity of Maafaru Airport.
The new fuel farm will serve an average of 4-5 domestic flights and 3-5 international flights per day.
In addition to the fuel farm, there are two bowser trucks for refueling aircraft and the latest technology and machinery will be used in the airport, the company said.
Fuel Farm Highlights:
- 400,000 liters of fuel can be stored
- A 35,000-liter oil bowser
- A 20,000-liter oil bowser
- All aircraft except the Airbus A380 can be refueled
- Strict safety and environmental standards will be followed in accordance with international best practices
- Overall operational efficiency of the airport will improve significantly
Maldives Islamic Bank MD Mufaddal said he believes the fuel farm will bring changes to the tourism sector in the region.
The bank aims to participate in the further development of tourism as it is the backbone of the economy, he added.
The fuel farm, which can store 400,000 liters of oil at a time, is financed by the Maldives Islamic Bank.
Maafaru International Airport records one of the highest jet movements in the Maldives. The airport, which records an average of 700 air traffic movements per year, is the second largest airport in Maldives after Velana International Airport.
The airport, operated by Island Aviation, was built at a cost of USD 60 million from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD).
The airport has a runway of approximately 2,300 meters and can accommodate A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft.
The government has also decided to further develop the airport and expand it to accommodate Boeing 777 twin jets with Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) contracted for that work earlier this year.
