10 private jets to Maafaru airport since border reopening

Maafaru International Airport has provided services to 10 private jets since Maldives reopened its borders.

Maldives suspended on-arrival visa and closed its borders in face of the coronavirus pandemic on March 27, but reopened its borders to international travel nearly four months later on July 15.

Island Aviation, which manages Maafaru International Airport, has announced that the airport has accommodated 10 private jets since borders reopened in July.

ނ.މާފަރު ބައިނަލްއަޤްވާމީ އެއަރޕޯޓް. ބޯޑަރު ހުޅުވިފަހުން މިއަދާ ހަމައަށް ޕްރައިވެޓް ދިހަ ޖެޓަކަށް މާފަރު އެއަރޕޯޓުންވަނީ ޚިދުމަތްދީފައި. pic.twitter.com/J6gEMbrYSe

— Maldivian (@MaldivianAero) August 11, 2020

Surrounded by high-end tourist resorts, Maafaru International Airport was developed with USD 60 million in funding from Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), and is designed to accommodate Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircrafts.

The airport prepared for the reopening of the border by establishing an in-house PCR lab, funded by international resort chain Soneva Group, which operates a luxury tourist resort near Maafaru.

The airport also installed thermal cameras, glass partitions at service counters, and social distancing markers.

Maafaru International Airport’s runway is to be further enlarged to accommodate Boing 777 twinjet aircrafts. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has approved funding for the project.