Maafaru Airport reopens for international flights after runway expansion

The Maafaru International Airport in N. Atoll has reopened for international operations after it was suspended for a project to expand the airport’s runway.

Opened in 2019, the Maafaru Airport is surrounded by multiple luxury resorts. The next year, the airport expanded its operations and began welcoming international flights.

But international operations were suspended in May last year for a project to redevelop the airport, including to expand its existing runway from 2.2 kilometers to 2.8 kilometers.

Island Aviation, which operates the Maafaru Airport, said the runway will now accommodate Boeing 777-ER300 aircrafts.

The Maafaru Airport – which sees a high number of jet movements – is also undergoing a project to expand its apron. Once done, the airport will have the parking capacity for 26 jets – double the current 13.

Maafaru Airport is the second largest airport in the Maldives, after the Velana International Airport. It sees an average 700 air traffic movements each year.

The Maafaru Airport was funded by Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) – which awarded USD 60 million in non-reimbursable financial aid toward the project, and contracted to Singaporean company, Tuff Offshore. The ADFD later granted additional funding to expand the airport.