A new domestic airport was inaugurated last week in the Maldives' northernmost geographic atoll Ihavandhippolhu.
The newly developed Hoarafushi Domestic Airport is located on the island of Hoarafushi, North Thiladhun (HA) Atoll. The airport was officially inaugurated on Thursday November 19, 2020 by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on his first trip outside the capital Malé City after the COVID-19 outbreak.
Hoarafushi Airport is equipped with a runway of 1,200 meters, an apron of 8,625 square meters, a taxiway, service roads, a parking area of 9,473 square meters and a fire access road of 1,718 square meters.
Flag-carrier Maldivian conducted test flights to the new airport last week. Aishath Nahula, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, confirmed that scheduled flights were to begin within a week from inauguration. These flights too, will be conducted by Maldivian.
Hoarafushi Airport adds to the transport network a new connection for locals and tourists traveling up north to the atoll's guesthouses and the sole tourist resort JA Manafaru, a 5-star luxury property in Ihavandhippolhu managed by the UAE-based hotel chain JA Resorts & Hotels.
