President inaugurates major airport development project

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has inaugurated the key development project of the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA).

The inauguration ceremony of the key development project of INIA, which includes the new runway, apron, fuel farm and the cargo terminal, was held at the Rannabandeyri Hall of Dhraubaaruge.

The project of USD 800 million has been contracted to China’s Beijin Urban Construction Group (BUCG).

A new 3,400 meter long and 65 meter wide runway would be built under the project. The new runway can accommodate the A380 Airbus, the biggest commercially used airplane. And the old runway would be changed into a taxi-way.

The fuel farm at the airport would also be upgraded to house three times more fuel than the current farm. And with the new hydrant system, airplanes can be fueled via tube.

The project also includes a modern cargo complex that would speed up the process of departing and arriving cargo.

The first phase of the INIA development project is scheduled to be completed by 2018.