Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has announced the successful completion of land reclamation works for the development of Sh. Milandhoo Airport, marking a significant milestone in efforts to expand aviation infrastructure in the northern Maldives.
According to MACL, the reclamation phase covered a total area of 21 hectares, with more than 1.13 million cubic metres of sand pumped to create the land required for the future airport facility.
The work was carried out using the dredger Queen of the Netherlands, which has a hopper capacity of 35,000 cubic metres. Reclamation operations began on April 3 and were completed on May 4, allowing the project to reach full completion of the reclamation component within 31 days.
MACL stated that the reclamation works were completed according to schedule, achieving 100 percent of the planned target area.
The overall airport project covers approximately 25.9 hectares, including 4.9 hectares allocated for vegetation clearance and site preparation works on the existing island.
The completion of reclamation paves the way for the next stages of airport development, including the construction of aviation infrastructure and supporting facilities required to bring the project into operation.
Milandhoo Airport forms part of broader efforts to improve domestic air connectivity and support economic growth in the northern atolls. Improved transportation links are expected to benefit residents, businesses and public services while creating new opportunities for tourism development in the region.
MACL has increasingly taken on a larger role in the development and management of aviation infrastructure across the Maldives. In addition to operating Velana International Airport, the company has been involved in several airport development and expansion projects aimed at strengthening connectivity between the capital and the atolls.
The completion of the reclamation phase represents one of the first major milestones for the Milandhoo Airport project and brings the long-awaited development a step closer to reality.
With the newly reclaimed land now ready for construction activities, MACL is expected to move forward with the next phases of the project as work continues to expand the country’s domestic aviation network.
