Nasheed: Maldives airport projects show irresponsibility and poor planning

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has criticized the Muizzu administration’s airport development policy, calling it financially untenable and indicative of poor planning.

In a post on X on Thursday evening, Nasheed said the government’s approach to building airports “where speedboats can reach” reflects a lack of vision and responsibility in transport planning.

The current administration aims to ensure that every inhabited island is within 30 minutes of an airport. As part of this initiative, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has inaugurated airport construction projects in Milandhoo, Bilehfahi, and Komandoo during his ongoing visit to Shaviyani Atoll. The region already hosts Funadhoo Airport, and additional airports are planned in Makunudhoo, where MTCC has been awarded the construction contract.

Nasheed noted that the northern provinces of Haa Alif and Haa Dhaalu already have four operational airports, Hanimaadhoo International Airport, Kulhudhuffushi Airport, Hoarafushi Airport, and Funadhoo Airport, with four more under development. He warned that this clustering of airports within 19 to 36 minutes by speedboat leads to reduced flight frequencies, harming both locals and tourism. “Maldivian airline already proved reducing hops improved profitability,” he wrote.

Mohamed Firaq, CEO of Inner Maldives, said on SSTV’s Baaru Hathareh program that the proliferation of airports is driven by political motives rather than economic logic. He warned that the policy will burden the government and ultimately the public, citing high operational costs and staffing pressures. “We are doing harmful things,” Firaq said, adding that only Velana International Airport, Maafaru International Airport, and Dharavandhoo Airport are currently profitable.

Firaq also highlighted that some domestic airports operate just one flight per week, and that Island Aviation has been running at a loss for four years, with ticket prices remaining high despite increased infrastructure. He urged reforms in airline management and ticketing systems to improve efficiency and affordability.

President Muizzu has defended the airport expansion as part of a broader decentralization and connectivity agenda. During his recent visit to Meemu Atoll, he inaugurated Muli Airport, describing it as a gateway to development and announcing complementary projects including road upgrades, hospital expansion, and housing initiatives.