Test flights to Hoarafushi airport scheduled for November 16

Test flights to Hoarafushi Airport are to be conducted on November 16, according to the Transport Ministry. 

Transport Ministry State Minister Ahmed Zuhair said that after the test flights, a date for scheduled flights will be finalized. 

The airport is scheduled to be officially opened on November 17. 

The residents of the island are now making the final preparations for the opening. Islanders took part in planting trees at the reclaimed land for the airport.

Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) developed the airport which has a runway of 1.2 kilometers as well as an apron of 86.35 square meters. 

It was the current administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih which relocated the airport originally planned in Maafinolhu of the same atoll to Hoarafushi after coming to power. A land area of 345,000 square meters was reclaimed near Hoarafushi for the airport.