Maafaru International Airport has completed its second major development phase, with the milestone marked by a special flight from Maldivian’s first wide-body aircraft, an Airbus A330-200. The aircraft made a ceremonial landing on Tuesday to celebrate the official opening of the upgraded airport.
The airport, located in Noonu Atoll, is operated by the state-owned Island Aviation Services Ltd, which also runs the national airline Maldivian. Known for handling private jet arrivals to luxury resorts in the northern Maldives, Maafaru has become a key hub for high-end tourism. In 2023 alone, 353 private jets landed at the airport.
Development of the airport began in 2018 with funding from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD). The first phase, worth $49 million, was carried out by Singapore’s Tuff Offshore Engineering Services. It involved building the original 2,200-metre runway, reclaiming land, and constructing the terminal, fire and rescue facilities, control tower, jetties, hangars, and installing navigational and ground handling equipment.
The recently completed second phase was awarded to the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) for $27 million. The agreement between the Maldives government and ADFD was signed on 7 December 2022, and MTCC began work the next day. The project was completed in exactly one year, on 6 December 2023. This phase included extending the runway to 2.8 kilometres so the airport can now handle larger, Code E aircraft. It also included additional land reclamation, beach protection, airfield upgrades, and expanding the apron to allow parking for up to 30 aircraft at once.
Since it began operations in 2019, Maafaru Airport has handled more than 3,000 international flights and over 9,000 total landings, serving upwards of 250,000 passengers.
Island Aviation says a third phase is in the pipeline. Although a start date hasn’t been announced, the next stage is expected to include expanding the terminal and arrival hall, building VIP lounges, and developing a city hotel to serve passengers and crew.