Th. Vilufushi Airport to be completed within 2.5 years: President Muizzu

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced that the Th. Vilufushi Airport is expected to be completed within two years and six months, with practical work on the project set to begin today.

The President made the announcement during his visit to Vilufushi last night, the third stop on his tour of islands in Thaa Atoll.

Speaking at a meeting with local residents, he highlighted that the airport is a crucial development project not only for Vilufushi but for the entire region. 

He revealed that the airport will feature a runway 1,800 metres in length, and that dredging work is scheduled to begin tomorrow.

"The practical work of reclamation will start [today]. The airport will be completed and opened within 30 months, two and a half years," the President said, noting that this is a long-awaited project for many people in the atoll.

President Muizzu emphasized that the airport was one of his key campaign promises and assured residents that the project will be fully delivered. 

Alongside the airport development, the foundation stone for a new, high-quality hospital, another urgent need of the Vilufushi community, will also be laid today. 

The airport project was also pledged by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Ibu). During his visit to the island,  just ahead of the presidential election and near the end of his term, models of the proposed airport and hospital were displayed at the jetty area. However, the visit was met with protests from locals.

In August 2023, the previous administration awarded a contract to reclaim land for the airport, linked to an agreement involving the leasing of an island for resort development. However, no work had commenced under that contract.