MACL contracts MTCC to develop airport in Fainu

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has officially contracted Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) to build an airport in R. Fainu. The agreement was signed on Sunday by MACL’s CEO Ibrahim Shareef and MTCC’s Managing Director Ahmed Saudee, with Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falah also present at the ceremony.

The development of the airport in Fainu has long been a point of discussion, with the idea first proposed by former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. However, environmental concerns led to resistance and the emergence of the ‘Save Fainu’ movement. Under former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the airport was planned for a nearby uninhabited island, though no practical work was started.

In his 2023 campaign, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu promised to deliver on this airport project. During a January visit to Fainu, Muizzu emphasized that the new airport would provide economic benefits by creating job opportunities and boosting local tourism. He expressed hope that the airport would be open by his next visit.