MTCC Contracted To Expand & Develop N. Maafaru International Airport

On Thursday, Maldives Transport & Contracting Company (MTCC) was awarded the Development and Expansion of Maafaru Airport Phase II Project by the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure of the Government of Maldives. The project was contracted to MTCC via an agreement signed on Thursday by the Director General of the Ministry, Fathimath Shaana Farooq. The CEO of MTCC, Adam Azim signed on behalf of the company during the ceremony.

The main objective of the project is to expand the airfield runway and taxiway of Maafaru International Airport which will aid in increasing the capacity of the airport. Hence, the scope of the project includes the extension of the airfield-south runway by 650m, reclamation works of a 1,045,925cbm area, a 5700m revetment and asphalt laying of 32,300 sqms on the airfield and 5600 sqm on the taxiway. Additionally, paint markings and landscaping will be done as well as installing airfield lights. The project is valued at USD 27.18 Million funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and is set to be completed within one year.

The Noonu atoll where the Maafaru International Airport is located is increasingly becoming a popular destination for tourism with seven high-end luxury resorts already situated in the region. The inauguration of the phase 1 of N.Maafaru International Airport has brought significant impacts on the economic activity and tourism of the Atoll, with the airport serving as the main gateway to the prosperity of the residents of Noonu atoll. Island Aviation services which oversee the airport operations at Maafaru stated that is the 2^nd airport in the Maldives with the highest arrival rates after VIA with 300 jets landings at the airport as of November 2022. As such, the expansion of the airport will assist in boosting the tourism industry and the economy of both the Noonu atoll and the Maldives.