MACL to Develop Nilandhoo Airport Within 2.5 Years Under New Development Agreement

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has officially taken over the development and future operation of Nilandhoo Airport, with a targeted completion timeline of two and a half years. The handover ceremony took place in Faafu Nilandhoo during President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s ongoing tour of the atolls.

The formal agreement was signed between Finance Minister Moosa Zameer and MACL Managing Director Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed. Speaking at the event, President Muizzu emphasized that the airport will serve the entire atoll not just Nilandhoo and is a critical component of the government’s broader transport strategy.

The airport is being developed in line with the administration’s policy to ensure that every inhabited island, resort, and industrial zone is within a 30 minute reach of a domestic airport. This initiative aims to decentralize connectivity, improve emergency access, and support regional economic growth.

Construction responsibilities have been assigned to Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), which was awarded the contract on March 27, 2024. The company is expected to complete the physical works within 390 days. According to the President, land reclamation for a 1,500-meter runway is nearing completion, and MTCC has also been tasked with dredging an additional 300 meters bringing the total runway length to 1,800 meters.

MACL will oversee the airport’s development and long term operations, with plans to build a modern facility equipped to handle domestic traffic efficiently. The project revives earlier plans proposed under former President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration, which allocated budgetary provisions for the airport but did not advance construction.