The Hanimaadhoo International Airport started using the completed part of its new runway and the first flight landed yesterday.
A 2,460-meter runway is under development at the airport, of which a 1,200-meter section was operationalized on Sunday morning. It was opened with lights installed for the capacity to operate flights at night.
Ahmed Mubeen, managing director of the Regional Airports Company Ltd (RACL) that operates the Hanimaadhoo International Airport, and Ali Saleem, managing director of Island Aviation, traveled on the first flight to land on the new runway.
Landing of first flight on new runway. -- Photo: RACL
Speaking at the runway opening ceremony, RACL MD Mubeen said construction of all segments of the new runway would be completed by March this year if work progresses on schedule.
Flights to India from the Hanimaadhoo International Airport will begin in the near future, Island Aviation MD Saleem assured.
Work on Hanimaadhoo International Airport’s new runway is divided into three phases. Work on the two remaining segments will begin after the airport’s old runway is demolished, according to RACL.
When the project is complete, large aircraft such as Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 will be able to land at Hanimaadhoo International Airport and a terminal with the capacity to serve 1.3 million passengers will be developed along with fuel storage capacity, RACL said.
