Maamigili Airport changed to a domestic airport

Maamigili Airport, owned by Villa International and earlier given permission to be operated as an international airport, has been declared by the government as a domestic airport.

The Spokesperson for Civil Aviation told Sun Online today that this was informed to Villa Shipping and Trading by the government yesterday.

He said that this decision was made after the features required for an international airport were not established at Maamigili Airport within the agreed period.

Managing Director of Villa Shipping Ibrahim Zahir told Sun Online that he had not yet received any written confirmation regarding this decision by the government.

“If the government has decided this, then I have no further comments. We will only know if the agreement has not been followed after the necessary checks are conducted. We will respond once we receive the letter,” said Zahir.

Maamigili Airport was leased to Villa International for 99 years, and declared an international airport, by the administration of former President Dr Mohamed Waheed.

Back then, Villa International said that they will focus on providing services to aircraft arriving in the Maldives.