Reasons for the
construction of Regional Airports in the Maldives.
When His
Excellency President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom took office,
transportation from island to island was a very big problem.
Hence the president decided to build airports at the North
and South of the country. And the problem of unauthorized
fishing by the foreign vessels in the territorial waters of
the Maldives had become a big issue.
Malé International Airport
This is the main airport in the Republic of Maldives which
serves all the international and domestic flights operating
to and from their respective destinations.
The date on which Gan airport was opened for operation
of the 1st flight cannot be found in records. On May
1962 a Royal Air force flight of Great Britain landed at
Gan airport. Gan Airport was constructed by Royal Air
Force of Great Britain. The runway built on Gan by the
British was 8,700 feet (2,656 meters).
Hanimaadhoo Airport Under the able guidance of the
President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom the implementation of
the project towards the development of the country was
entrusted to the then Minister of Trade and Industries
Honorable Ilyas Ibrahim, who was also the Minister of
State for Defense and National Security.
The Airport, which opened on 11th December 1993, by the
President His Excellency Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom was believed to
bring rapid progress to the nation’s economy. And also
it would be a great advancement because of the time
saved, for medical and communication purposes - for more
reasons than one.
When our president, His Excellency Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom
assumed office in1978, some of the most pressing problems faced
by the country were the immense difficulty involved in traveling
between Malé and the outlying islands and the adverse effects in
the Maldivian fishing industry due to illegal entry of
foreign fishing vessels into the Maldivian territorial
waters.
This is the main
airport in the Republic of Maldives which serves all the
international and domestic flights operating to and from
their respective destinations.
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Last updated on
Monday, August 20, 2007
