Nasheed: Hanimaadhoo Airport should be converted to a regional airline’s hub

Former president Mohamed Nasheed, on Friday, has suggested converting Hanimaadhoo International Airport, which was recently inaugurated after major redevelopment carried out with India’s assistance, into a regional airline’s hub.

Hanimaadhoo International Airport’s operations became a topic again after Indian media outlet, ‘The Hindu’, on Wednesday, reported that India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, at the request of the Maldivian government, has asked the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to study a proposal for “engaging Indian companies” for the management of the airport. According to the report, the request was made by President Muizzu during Minister Naidu’s visit to the Maldives for the airport’s inauguration. The media outlet cited a senior official from the Ministry as its source.

However, the Maldivian government has denied the report on Friday, with Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen affirming the current administration will not hand over the operations of Hanimaadhoo International Airport, or any other airport in the Maldives, to a foreign company.

Amid the debate, Nasheed suggested in a post on X on Friday that converting the airport into a regional airline hub and operating it in partnership with the airline would deliver greater profits for Maldivians.

He added that this would further drive up development in northern atolls. 

Nasheed did not mention a specific airline or a specific country in his post.

During Nasheed’s administration, the operations of Maldives’ main airport, Velana International Airport (VIA), was awarded India’s GMR in a controversial 25-year contract which heightened opposition against the administration. He was subsequently ousted following major protests that saw participation from uniformed security personnel.

Then-vice president Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, who assumed presidency following Nasheed’s ouster, revoked the contract. Maldives had to pay USD 270 million as compensation for wrongful termination of the contract.

The redevelopment of Hanimaadhoo International Airport which was constructed 39 years ago was awarded to India’s JMC Projects for USD 136.6 million. Prior to the redevelopment of the airport, it was only capable of accommodating ATR Dash aircrafts.

The upgraded airport includes a 2,465-metre runway capable of handling narrow-body aircraft, a 10,300-square-metre terminal designed to serve 1.3 million passengers annually, a fuel farm, cargo terminal, and the Maldives’ first aerobridge at an atoll airport.