Development of the Airport is a necessity: Saleem

As tourism industry in the Maldives grows steadily, the Ibrahim Naasir International Airport at Hulhulé must be developed, said Ibrahim “Bandhu” Saleem, the Managing Director of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL). He said that development of the Airport is a necessity rather than just an option.

Speaking to the reporters after signing a consultancy agreement made between the MACL and Changi Airport in Singapore, Saleem said that lack of a second runway causes difficulties in the operations of the Airport. He also said that there was lack of space at the terminal building and the arrival hall.

“As you all know, given the speed and direction at which our tourism industry is growing, we are at a point where there would be no further progress without additional investments. First of all, there is no second runway, which is very much a big challenge. Secondly, the terminal building is too small and there is simply no space to cater for arrivals. Thirdly, domestic flights are increasing in numbers. Each of these things would magnify the issue of having just one runway”, said Saleem.

Saleem said that the government had decided to build a new runway, which would be 3400 meters in length and 60 meters in breadth.

“We will go for a Code A runway, in addition to the Code C runway that we currently have. The new one would run along towards the east of the current one, and the old runway would then be transformed into a taxiway. When the construction is complete, crafts would land at the runway and use the taxiway to go to the terminal building”, said Saleem.

Speaking at today’s signing ceremony, Ahmed Adeeb, the Minister of Tourism said that “it did the tourism industry of the Maldives a lot of damage when the Ibrahim Naasir International Airport was totally handed over to a private party some time ago”, and that the government had absolutely no role in the affairs of the Airport back then.