MTCC awarded project to expand Maafaru Airport

Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has been contracted by the Planning Ministry to develop and expand the Maafaru International Airport in N. Atoll.

The contract was signed by Planning Ministry’s Director General Fathimath Shana Farooq and MTCC’s CEO Adam Azim on Thursday morning.

The project is valued at USD 27.1 million and is funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD).

The project to develop and expand the Maafaru International Airport involves expanding the 2.2-kilometer runway to 2.5 kilometers – which will accommodate Boeing 777-ER300 aircrafts, and reclaim land needed for the expansion.

MTCC will also resurface the runway, increase the length of the airport to 2.85 kilometers, expand the taxiway, upgrade the AGL, and upgrade the power system.

Speaking at the signing, Azim said MTCC won the contract after competing with three international companies.

Under the terms of the contract, MTCC is required to complete the project within one year.

Azim said that MTCC will complete the project within one year starting Thursday, as long as no further work is required on the Environmental Impact Assessment.

Opened in 2019, Maafaru International Airport is surrounded by multiple luxury resorts.

Maafaru International Airport was funded by ADFD – which awarded USD 60 million in non-reimbursable financial aid toward the project - and contracted to Singaporean company, Tuff Offshore. The airport was developed to accommodate Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircrafts.