Land reclamation for the airport in Shaviyani atoll Milandhoo has been completed within a month.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced in a post on X that the required land was reclaimed in 31 days, with work beginning on 3 April and concluding on 4 May.

A total of 21 hectares has been reclaimed for the project using the Queen of the Netherlands dredger.

The airport is expected to require 25.9 hectares in total, with an additional 4.9 hectares cleared of vegetation for construction.

The Milandhoo airport will be the fourth to be developed in Shaviyani atoll.

Construction of the airport began on 15 October last year during President Muizzu’s visit to the atoll. The project has been awarded to Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), with a completion timeline of two and a half years.

Developing an airport was a key campaign pledge made by President Muizzu to the island’s population of more than 2,000.

The president has previously said the project was planned following consultations to determine the most beneficial use of land in Milandhoo. As part of the development, the island’s harbor will be relocated.

There is already an airport in Funadhoo, while additional airport projects are under way in Bilehfahi and Komandoo within the atoll.