The government has officially announced its decision to develop a second airport in Laamu Atoll, to be located in the Isdhoo-Kalaidhoo area.
The atoll already has an airport at Kadhdhoo, situated between the islands of Fonadhoo and Gan. Isdhoo and Kalaidhoo are two islands located at the northernmost tip of the atoll, with Isdhoo spanning 128 hectares and Kalaidhoo covering 233 hectares.
The establishment of a second airport in Laamu Atoll was a key campaign pledge of President Mohamed Muizzu. However, until now, the administration had not specified the location for the project.
Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had also pledged to build a second airport in the atoll during his re-election campaign. At the time, demonstrations were held calling for the airport to be built near Maavah. However, Maavah is geographically isolated from the majority of the atoll’s inhabited islands.
Isdhoo and Kalaidhoo are among the most populous islands in the atoll. Currently, residents must undertake a 45-minute sea journey to reach Kadhdhoo Airport.
While the government has confirmed Isdhoo-Kalaidhoo as the site for the new airport, further details regarding the project’s execution and timeline have yet to be disclosed.
