The Making of Fuvahmulah Domestic Airport, Maldives

"Afunge Airport" 

I had the opportunity to visit Fuvahmulah and the construction site chosen as Airport development on August 16, 2011. During my first visit I saw a slow pace of work but the contractor following the principles of Kaizen I had a confidence that they would be able to complete the work as per the plan. During my trip I saw the leveling of land to be used for Runway, with multiple layers. Pictures taken during my first visit.

My second visit was on September 22, 2011. During the visit I had the opportunity to visit the site again and see the progress. This time there were minor changes compared to the previous visit.

Again the Island was visited on 30 October 2011. But this time the work was almost completed on one side. Asphalt was burned on shift basis and the workers were fighting against the deadline of test flight to the on the same evening. 

Final Layer in progress and completed on one side

Terminal Building

Drainage / Rain water collection

Runway Marking in progress

Terminal Building view from Runway

Terminal Building ceiling almost complete

Runway work in progress.

Terminal Building & Fire Truck

ATC equipments arrival

Locals helping cleaning runways

Runway Markings in progress

On 31st October 2011 the maiden 'test' flight operated by Maldivian Q2 (Dash8 Q200) from Ibrahim Nasir International Airport landed Fuvahmulak Airport making history. The maiden flight was flown from Male with Senior Staffs from Maldivian, Civil Aviation and other government agencies along with Media officials. Even though the flight was able to land on the runway, the runways surface was not fully completed neither marked fully.

Citizens of whole Fuvahmulah from old, youth, young were around the airport to witness the historic flight. The locals had created an environment more like the Football match. I could the happiness on the faces of the this long waited people of Fuvhamulah. Most of the people captured the historic moment on their mobiles and cameras in the form of photos or videos. As soon as the aircraft landed / touchdown there was an electrifying noise around the runway. Within the island the hot topic was airport. Anywhere we go we hear about the excited talks, I recall one middle aged man saying that "this runway is longer then the one at Addu" the other saying this would be the most beautiful domestic terminal in the country.

After a small ceremony and interviews the flight departed from FVM (Fuvahmulah Airport) to the Gan International Airport. The journey was 10 minutes approximately. As soon as the aircraft took off from FVM I was able to see Addu Atoll. I was among the 37 passengers from who took off from FVM airport for the first time, making history. I would say myself lucky for getting the opportunity.

My boarding pass from FVM to GAN on Test Flight

• The first official scheduled flight was operated by maldivian - Q2 on 11/11/11 (11th November 2011. The aircraft operated was a dash8 Q300 with a seat capacity of 50 seats. 
• On November 16, 2011 the first Dornier D228 Aircraft landed FVM. This was a 16 seated aircraft. Registration 8Q-IAR.
• The first ATR aircraft to land FVM was Danish Air Transport ATR42-500 (Maldivian leased aircraft) baring the registration OY-RUF. 
• The first VVIP to land FVM was Sri Lankan First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and the first lady of the Maldives Ms. Laila Ali Abdulla on 11th November 2011.

VVIP arriving FVM. Flight arrived from GAN

A single building was constructed for Departure and Arrivals including other offices and facilities. Fuvahmulak Airport has its own Air Traffic Control Tower.

Holidaying to Hanimaadhoo, Maldives

Hanimaadhoo is the northern most Airport island in the Maldives (Haa Dhaal Atoll). The island is divided into three parts - Civilians, Airport & Maldives National Defense force. "Hani" in dhivehi means narrow. As the name the island is a quite narrow island. Other main islands nearby Hanimaadhoo are Kulhudhufushi and Dhidhoo.

On 2nd Feb 2013, Hanimaadhoo Airport was declared as the third international Airport in the country.

How to reach?

Maldivian operates daily flights to and from Hanimadhoo to Male' and International flights to and from Trivandrum, India twice weekly. To book your tickets you can either contact Maldivian Callcentre +960 3335544, email : iascallcentre@iasl.aero or using their website : www.maldivian.aero

beach view from ro

How to Book Room / Accommodation?

Hanimaadhoo has beach side rooms build as twin rooms. Each room faces the beach. This rooms are managed and maintained by Hanimaadhoo Airport office. 

Room details:

• Bed - Queen Size
• Cable TV 
• Mini fridge
• Air conditioned
• Rate 300MVR per night (as on 2010)

 

Each room is isolated from the other with distance and in between trees. Each room has a walk way towards the beach as seen the picture.

Room from beach

Beaches

Hanimaadhoo has one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. The white sandy beaches are so soft that you will love walking on them in bare feet. This is a must to do. It is also easy to take regular dips in the beach as its most of the time calm and cool.

Locals 

The inhabited areas population is almost 1800 and this consists of relocated people from other small nearby islands which were damaged during the 2004 Tsunami. The locals and visitors both enjoy fishing in the island. It is also said that this part is good for fishing. The flying fishes are also quite common here.