First commercial jet lands at Hanimaadhoo Airport

Hanimaadhoo International Airport welcomed its first commercial jet on Friday morning, marking a milestone since the airport’s redevelopment and reopening last month.

The aircraft, carrying eight tourists from Paraguay, landed at the northern Maldives airport before they continued to Hideaway Beach Resort and Spa in Haa Alifu Atoll. While private jets have previously landed at Hanimaadhoo for refueling, this was the first to carry passengers.

Operated by Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), which also runs Velana International Airport, the newly reopened Hanimaadhoo Airport features a terminal designed to reflect the natural beauty, lifestyle, and culture of the Maldives.

The Indian loan-funded development, one of the largest airport projects in the country, includes a 2.7-kilometre runway, a terminal with annual capacity for 1.3 million passengers, an aero bridge, duty-free lounges, a new air traffic control tower, a cargo building, a fuel farm, and a seaplane jetty. The airport can accommodate 15 jets at a time.

The project cost USD 136 million (MVR 2 billion) and was financed under an USD 800 million line of credit from Exim Bank of India.