Qasim hints at plans to make Kaadedhdhoo Airport international

Chairman on Villa Group, Qasim Ibrahim has hinted at plans to make Kaadedhdhoo Airport international, stating that the agreement for the handover of the airport between Villa Air and the Maldivian government included many clauses which pushed for the airport to become international.

Meeting the airport’s staff on Tuesday, Qasim, the leader of Jumhoory Party (JP) and parliamentary representative for Maamigili constituency, said that Villa Air took over management of Kaadedhdhoo Airport by making certain commitments to the government.

The Kaadedhdhoo Airport had been handed over to Villa Air for development and management for a period of 50 years, when the agreement was terminated in 2017, during former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration, and the airport was seized from the company.  

The decision led to Villa Air filing a lawsuit against the state with the Civil Court. The Civil Court ruled the termination of the agreement to be unlawful, and ordered the state to hand over the airport back to Villa Air in 2018. The ruling was upheld upon appeal at the High Court, and by the Supreme Court in May 2021.

The airport was finally handed back to Villa Air, nine months later, on Tuesday.

Qasim told the airport’s staff that Villa Air did not plan to sue the government for losses it incurred after the airport was seized from the company.

“I believe that, it we do the calculations, we enjoy a huge advantage,” he said.

“You know the condition of this place today. The condition of the jetty. The condition of the toilets, the security rooms, and the machines.”

Qasim said that Villa Air would attend to the development of the airport as soon as possible. He said he believed the airport will benefit the people living in the region.

“We have practically presented the plan. The paperwork is nearly done,” he said. “When we reclaim the land, when we build a 2.8 kilometer runway, it will also include two islands near Thinadhoo.”

After the Kaadedhdhoo Airport was seized from Villa Air, the airport was managed by Regional Airports. The airport was riddled with complaints over low quality of service and lack of maintenance and repair during that time. The main jetty of Kaadedhdhoo had collapsed back in January – drawing further attention to the condition of the airport.