MPs call to reclaim Kaadedhhoo Airport from Villa

Parliamentarians called for Gdh. Kaadedhhoo Airport to be taken back from Villa Air's management, claiming the airport's condition has deteriorated to the point that it is affecting the image of the country's aviation service.

Villa Air was first awarded the airport in 2013 for a period of 50 years. However, in January 2017, the then President Abdullah Yameen's government canceled the agreement and seized the airport.

Civil Court then ruled in 2018 to return the airport to Villa with both the High Court and the Supreme Court upholding the verdict. With that, the airport was handed over back to Villa Air in March 2022.

However, with the airport's condition on the decline, the matter was flagged to the parliament and is now under investigation by the Economic Committee.

During the committee meeting today, north Thinadhoo MP Saudulla Hilmee said it was concerning to have been told that the Civil Aviation Authority had not conducted a quality assessment of the airport.

"The airport is in such bad condition that it would not be given to be operated if an assessment is done," Saudulla said, highlighting that anyone has access to the airport runway because of how badly the airport's security management is handled.

He said he did not believe that Villa Air had any intention of developing the airport and called on the government to take over the airport from Villa instead of letting the company do as they please with valuable state property.

The committee would take a decision on the matter after receiving all the relevant information, Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir said.

With that, he also requested details of the agreement between Civil Aviation and Villa Air as well as a plan by the company to develop the airport.

Velidhoo MP Mohamed Abbas moved to summon both Villa Air and the Civil Aviation Authority to the committee to probe for further information.

Both motions were unanimously passed by the members present at today's meeting.

As such, senior officials of Villa Air and Civil Aviation will be summoned to the committee meeting on Tuesday.

Villa Air took over the operation of the airport in 2022 and planned to develop it into an international airport within seven years.