First test flight successfully lands at Faresmaathoda Airport

A test flight, for the first time, landed successfully at the newly developed airport in GDh. Faresmaathoda on Monday evening.

The test flight, national airline Maldivian’s DASH8-300 flight, landed at Faresmaathoda Airport’s runway at 17:28pm on Monday evening.

Minister of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam, Maldivian’s Deputy Managing Director Aishath Jennifer and Regional Airport’s Managing Director Mohamed Rizvee were passengers on the test flight.

Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) was awarded the project. The company was tasked with building a 1,200-meter runway, a terminal in reclaimed land, and additional facilities under this project which is financed from the state budget at MVR 144 million. The airport was developed to accommodate flights during the night hours as well.

The government plans to officially inaugurate Faresmaathoda Airport next Wednesday. While final preparations are underway for the inauguration ceremony – the airport will be inaugurated by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Ahead of the inauguration – applications have been opened for job vacancies in the airport. Regional Airports Company, which will manage the airport, is seeking to hire 45 workers in 15 areas.

Land reclamation works for the airport commenced during former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyom’s administration. The reclamation was first contracted to UAE’s Gulf Colba. Later in 2019, the project was handed over to MTCC from Gulf Colba.