Maafaru airport reopens for international flights

Maafaru International Airport has resumed international flight operations at the start of this year’s tourism season, following a temporary closure for upgrading. The airport is known for hosting the second-largest number of private jets in the Maldives after Velana International Airport.

The airport, which serves high-end tourists visiting nearby luxury resorts, underwent improvements to expand its capacity. It initially opened on December 1, 2019, with financial support from the Abu Dhabi Fund. The recent upgrades included an expansion of the runway to accommodate wide-body aircraft.

A project aimed at doubling the airport’s jet parking capacity was initiated in August, with a six-month deadline. The project involves the development of an area covering 15,300 square metres, allowing the airport to park 26 business jets at a time, compared to the current capacity of 13 jets. This increase is expected to meet the seasonal demand for upper-class travellers.

In addition to the parking capacity expansion, the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has been awarded a contract valued at $27.2 million (MVR 419.1 million) to further develop the airport. As part of the project, the runway will be extended by 650 metres, enabling the airport to handle larger aircraft such as Boeing 777s. The taxiway will also be widened to facilitate increased traffic.

These developments are expected to enhance the airport’s ability to serve luxury travellers and improve connectivity to resorts in the area.