INIA development plans unveiled

The development plans for Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA), including a new runway, have been unveiled.

Speaking at a press conference at the President’s Office today, Minister of Economic Development Mohamed Saeed said that since President Abdulla Yameen’s assumption of office, the plans have been focused on just developing the terminal - but the new developmental plans unveiled today would see the whole airport transformed.

In addition to a second runway, the new airport would contain a modern taxiway, aerobridges, and a new road connecting the airport to the Hulhumalé-Malé bridge.

The new airport will have a capacity of 7 million passengers per year – a threefold expansion compared to the current airport.

The project would be implemented in two phases, said Saeed, and the second runway, fuel firm, cargo terminal, and apron expansion works would be carried out by Beijing Urban Construction Group, while the project to construct the terminal has been awarded to a Japanese company.

Singapore’s Changi Airport Group has been appointed as the consultant for this project, which will be completed in 2017.

Saeed further said that the initial investment of $400 million has been doubled to facilitate the new plans, and efforts are ongoing to obtain loans from a Japanese bank to fund the terminal project, and from a Chinese bank for the remaining areas of the airport development project.