The redeveloped Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HIA) in the northern atolls of the Maldives was officially inaugurated on November 9, 2025, in a ceremony marking a major infrastructure development for the country. Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu presided over the event, which was also attended by India’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, representing the Government of India.
The main source of funding for the renovation project was an EXIM Bank of India Line of Credit. In 2019, this funding was agreed upon to support the facility’s ambitious modernization overhaul. The construction, which was completed by the Indian company JMC Projects and cost about $136.6 million, achieved the goal of increasing the Maldives’ air travel capacity.
The airport’s operational capabilities have been greatly enhanced by the upgrades. One of the main features is the recently built 2,465-meter runway, which can now handle mid-sized jet planes like the Airbus A320, opening up more international direct flights. The largest aircraft type to land at the airfield, a Maldivian A320, served as a symbolic marker for the inauguration. The airport can now accommodate up to 1.3 million passengers per year thanks to the construction of a new passenger terminal that is more than 10,000 square meters in size. The terminal also has a contemporary aerobridge, which was previously only found at airports in the capital area.
President Muizzu emphasized the development’s national significance in his speech. According to him, the airport is a vital part of his administration’s decentralization strategy and a major tool for boosting northern economic expansion. By improving global connectivity, he said, the new facility acts as a “gateway to prosperity” that will boost important local industries like tourism, agriculture, and fisheries. The project is seen as a representation of India and the Maldives’ long-standing diplomatic ties.
Now positioned to act as a crucial hub, the Hanimaadhoo International Airport is anticipated to stimulate new investments and open doors for communities throughout the northern Maldivian atolls.
