First Commercial Jet Lands at Hanimaadhoo Airport in its 35-Year History

A commercial jet landed at Hanimaadhoo International Airport today for the first time in the airport’s history.

According to reports, this is the first commercial jet to land at the airport since it opened on October 28, 1990. While a jet had previously landed at the airport for refueling purposes, this marks the first commercial operation of its kind.

The jet, which landed at Hanimaadhoo around 9:40 AM today, was carrying tourists traveling to Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa in Haa Alif Atoll Dhonakulhi. It is reported that eight tourists arrived on the flight.

Information indicates that the jet traveled to Hanimaadhoo directly from Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.

The Hanimaadhoo International Airport development project was completed and officially brought into operation on November 9, 2024. The airport has been developed with the capacity to service approximately 15 jets simultaneously.

Physical work on the Hanimaadhoo International Airport development project began on January 18, 2023. It was conducted as a project under the $800 million Line of Credit signed between the Exim Bank of India and the Maldivian government in 2019.

The newly developed airport at Hanimaadhoo can serve 1.2 million passengers annually. Under this project, a new 2.46-kilometer runway was constructed.

Additionally, the project included the development of a 42,000-square-foot apron, a 2,400-meter runway, and a 10,500-square-meter passenger terminal. A 3,800-square-meter Air Traffic Control tower and a fuel jetty were also constructed.

Services at the new terminal, developed under the Hanimaadhoo International Airport development project, commenced on October 15, 2024.

The airport in Hanimaadhoo was originally developed and opened on October 28, 1990, during the administration of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. It was later upgraded to an international airport on February 2, 2013, during the administration of President Waheed.