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Kulhudhuffushi Airport commences scheduled flights

Ahmed Aiham
11 August 2019, MVT 18:15
The picture depicts passengers disembarking the first scheduled flight to Kulhudhuffushi, Haa Dhaal Atoll. PHOTO: KULHUDHUFFUSHI ONLINE
Ahmed Aiham
11 August 2019, MVT 18:15

Kulhudhuffushi Airport, in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, commenced operations for scheduled flights on Friday.

The national airline 'Maldivian' began selling tickets for flights to Kulhudhuffushi on August 6.

The airline noted that all flights were booked until August 17.

According to local from Kulhudhuffushi, the airline operates a single daily flight to the destination.

State Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Ahmed Zuhair, was amongst the passengers who flew on the inaugural voyage.

The domestic airport was inaugurated by former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on September 22, 2018, when he flew aboard the first aircraft that landed at Kulhudhuffushi. However, regular flights were not scheduled at that point.

The decision to commence services at Kulhudhuffushi Airport was finalised after the completion of an airport terminal and fire station.

Social media activists and environmentalists alike have expressed discontent concerning the project, as the development included the reclamation of six hectares of from the island's lagoon area as well as 13 hectares of Kulhudhuffushi's prized mangrove wetland.

The current administration allotted MVR 5.7 million for the airport project from the 2019 state budget.

An airport was previously built on neighbouring Hanimaadhoo island, which is still currently fully-functional.

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