1964

During the construction of the Hulhulé airport’s tarmac runway in the year 1964.

3rd August 1964

A survey team from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) came to Maldives. This was the first survey team for the airport project brought by the aid of the Colombo Plan.

The members of this team were:
1- Mr. D.J.I Panditharathuna
2- Mr. K. Dharumaratnam
3- Mr. C.C. Chinnappa

The team stayed for duration of one month and then returned to Ceylon.
The volunteers carried out the whole project of constructing the airport.

21st August 1964

The youth of Malé worked at the airport on behalf to the Prime Minister Mrs. Srimavo Bandaranayeka of Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

September 1964 to 14th August 1965.

There was a break of runway construction work during the construction of Hulhulé airports tarmac runway in the year 1965. The resident engineer for the airport scheme Mr. S. Alagananda of Ceylon

14th August 1965.

Public Works Department arrive in Malé

17th of August in 1965.

In order to pave the runway they put in sand for the first time on the 17th of August in 1965.

26th of August 1965.

The first group who participated in cutting coral stones into pieces for the paving was from Alif Atoll. They started the work on the 26th of August 1965.

1st of September 1965.

The removal of trees from the area required to widen the runway was started on the 1st of September 1965.

12th of October 1965.

Paving the runway with larger stone was initiated on 12th of October 1965.

Other important dates are:

1968

The process of expansion continued. The 1,567 feet of lagoon between Hulhulé and Gaadhoo Island nearby was reclaimed in 1968.

7th of December 1944.

Maldives became a member of the international aviation organization called the “International Civil Aviation Organization” (ICAO) on the 11th of April 1974. ICAO was founded on the 07th of December 1944.

9th of October 1974.

The first private plane landed at the airport on 09th of October 1974.

1976

Under a loan from Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development in 1976, the government carried out a feasibility study to probe the potential for development of the airport.

1976

In 1976 a West German joint venture Kocks Consult GMBH and the Frankfurt Airports Group was given the responsibility of designing the airport. The origin of the design was based on a feasibility report produced by the ICAO expert Mr. Hoover at the beginning of the year.

29th of March in 1978

The first agreement signed to expand the airport was on the 29th of March in 1978 with the International Airports Authority of India (IAAI). On behalf of the Maldives the Minister of Transport Honorable Al-Usthaaz Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom signed the agreement at that time. IAAI agreed on providing Civil works and fuel storage tanks for fuel.

29th of September 1978.

The former President His Excellency Ibrahim Nasir laid the foundation stone for the terminal building of Malé International Airport on the 29th of September 1978.

30th of September 1978

The second agreement to expand the airport was signed on the 30th of September 1978 with a West German firm called the Standard Elektrik Lorenz (SEL). They agreed to provide telecommunications and navigation equipment and work related to it.

11th November 1981

Before Hulhule Airport became an International Airport replacing the name as Malé International Airport,there was no Control Tower. Instead the controllers provided ATC service in a room allocated for Aeronautical Communication and ATC at the small terminal building and afterwards in a school bus equipped with the necessary communication equipments. It was situated on the eastern side of the Electronics Building. A fully equipped control tower was first established for the opening of new International Airport on the 11th November 1981.

1985

The VIP/VVIP Lounge at Hulhulé was completed and established in 1985.

8th of January 1986

Hulhule Recreation Club (HRC) was registered on the 08th of January 1986. The chairman of the club was the Director of Civil Aviation Mr. Mohamed Waheed and the Deputy Director Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim.

12th of December 1988

Civil Aviation Authority was dissolved and the “Department of Civil Aviation” and the “Maldives Airports Authority” formed on the 12th of December 1988.

20th January 1990

Maldives In-flight Catering Private Limited (MIC) was founded on 20th January 1990 at 1600hrs. The President His Excellency Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom inaugurated the building of MIC. MIC started catering on the 27th of March 1989.

25th of March 1991

Honorable Minister Abdulla Hameed laid the foundation stone of the Administrative Building of Maldives Airports Authority at Malé International Airport on the 25th of March 1991. This two-storey building’s construction began in the middle of the year. The floor area of this building was 1500M2.

5th of July 1994
(Tuesday at 14:30hrs.)

Bombay / Malé A.T.S Direct Speech Circuit was established on the 05th of July 1994. (Tuesday at 14:30hrs.)

27th August 1994

A passenger terminal built by the Seagull Airways for their use was inaugurated on 27th August 1994. Honorable Minister Abdulla Yamin was the chief guest of the ceremony.

7th of September 1994
Wednesday at 17:20hrs

The President His Excellency Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom laid the foundation stone of the new passenger terminal building complex on the 07th of September 1994 (Wednesday at 17:20hrs). The first terminal building was able to accommodate only 350 people while this new terminal is expected to cope with 1000 passengers every hour.

7th of December 1994
at 08:10hrs.

In celebration of the Golden Jubilee of ICAO, the ICAO flag was hoisted at the airport by the resident representative of UNDP Dr. Faraashuddeen on the 07th of December 1994 at 08:10hrs.

7th of December 1994

The opening ceremony of the library built at the administrative building of the airport was held on the 07th of December 1994 at 0820hrs. And the chief guest was the Minister of Transport Honorable Ahmed Zahir.

12th of April 1995 at 16:55

The new Fire and Rescue services center (Fire station) was inaugurated on the 12th of April 1995 at 16:55. The former Minister of Transport, Honorable Ahmed Zahir, hosted the ceremony. The foundation stone of the extension of the Electronics Building was laid on the same day at 17:30hrs.

12th of April 1991

The Silver Jubilee of the Maldives Airports Authority was celebrated on the 12th of April 1991.

1st of October 1991

A Department known as “Regional Airports” was formed on the 01st of October1991 in order to maintain the two domestic airports(excluding Gan) at that time, which were Hanimaadhoo and Kadhdhoo. The President of the Maldives decided to include these two airports under the supervision of the Maldives Airports Authority. During that time there were thirty-three foreigners and thirty-two Maldivian staff at the Hanimaadhoo airport and there were forty-six Maldivian staff at Kadhdhoo airport. At both airports there were a total of 111 staff.

22nd of July 1992.

The President His Excellency Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom inaugurated the Airport mosque “Masjidul Sabeel” on the 22nd of July 1992.

17th of September 1992

The FIR/ACC was established on the 17th of September 1992. Honorable Minister of state the late Sikkage Hussein Manikufaanu hosted this ceremony at 17:00hrs.

22nd of November 1993
(Saturday morning).

The administrative work was shifted to the new administrative building on the 22nd of November 1993 (Saturday morning).

1992

Shore protection-sheet piling took place in 1992.

1992

Runway overlay , rehabilitation , turning pad re-construction works took place during 1992.

1992

Sewerage and apron lighting renewed during 1992.

1992

New Generator sets were bought during 1992.

1992

New Fire and Rescue vehicles were bought during 1992.

1993

New two storey Administration Building was made during 1993 in Hulhulé Island for the Maldives Airports Authority Administrative staff who were working in Malé previously (Before joining the staff working at the airport the administrative staff were working in a building at the back of present Nasandhura Palace Hotel presently used by Island Aviation staff).

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1st of January 1994

Maldives Airports Authority became a commercial establishment on the 01st of January 1994 as per letter RNumber: 1-D/69/93/173 (30/12/1993) of the President’s Office.

15th and 16th of June 1994

The 5th regional board meeting, the 1st regional conference and the 2nd assembly of the Airports Council Asia (ACI) was held at the Bandos Island Resort on the 15th and 16th of June 1994.

9th of June 1995

The shoulder badge of the airport security staff was replaced with a new badge on the 09th of June 1995. On the same day, the new two-storey terminal building became the new Departure Terminal. The changeover was effective as passengers were checking in that afternoon for Air Lanka flight.

18th of September 1995

The ground floor of the two-storey departure terminal was in use as on the 11th of June 1995. From this day on the old departure was closed and was later developed into the new arrival terminal which came into effect on the 18th of September 1995. The first flight to arrive was an Air Lanka flight.

11th of November 1995

The changeover from the old terminal to the new two-storey terminal was fully accomplished on the 11th of November 1995.

9th of May 1996

The signing of an agreement with the Halcham Fire Engineering and Instrumentation Pvt. Ltd of Sri Lanka and the Maldives Airports Authority to establish a fire hydrant main system which costs US $ 654,998/- was held at the airport on the 09th of May 1996. The duration of work agreed was 11 months. (For 16 hydrants it requires 1700 meters of pipe.)

12th of May 1996 at 2046

The official inauguration of the new terminal complex was held on the 12th of May 1996 at 2046. The Guest of Honor of the ceremony was the President His Excellency Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom.

The terminal complex was declared open when the President His Excellency Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom pressed the remote control button of the monument, which was set up, in the middle of the triangular park in front of the arrival terminal. When the button was switched on the curtain slowly came down and the monument with Maldives Airports Authority’s name on it started revolving and the terminal complex lit up.

8th August 1997 at 16:30hrs

A park for children was opened at the airport on 08th August 1997 at 16:30hrs. The Managing Director Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim opened the Children’s Park.

18th October 1997 at 13:20hrs

To provide the service of sea rescue a marine base was set up at the eastern side. This base was opened on 18th October 1997 at 13:20hrs by the Managing Director Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim.

3rd December 1997 at 10:15hrs

Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) broadcasting system was introduced on 03rd December 1997 at 10:15. The Managing Director Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim of Maldives Airports Authority inaugurated this broadcasting system.

25th December 1997 at 10:30hrs

In order to make it easy to wash the vehicles used at Malé International Airport, a ramp was set up to wash the vehicles at the mechanical services unit. This unit was opened on 25th December 1997 at 10:30hrs by the Managing Director Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim.

10th April 1998

An agreement between Maldives In-flight Catering (MIC) and Maldives Airports Authority was signed to construct a hotel on 10th April 1998. Managing Director Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim signed on behalf of the Maldives Airports Authority. The signing of this agreement took place in Singapore.

18th August 1998.

The name of Hulhulé Recreation Club (HRC) was changed to Airport Recreation Club (ARC). This change was made on 18th August 1998. Director Mr. Ahmed Ali Maniku of M. Feeroazuge and Mr. Mohamed Wajeeh of M. Hazaarumaage were appointed to be in charge of this club.

Maldives Airports Authority has published the first edition of a newsletter called Airport Update Volume 2, No 1. January 1999.

2000

Ground Handling equipments were Modernized during 2000.
Additional fire vehicles to maintain 9^th category status were purchased during 2000.

1st of August 2000

Maldives Airports Authority has been transformed to Maldives Airports Company Limited on the 1st of August 2000.

14th August 2000

The island of Hulhulé including the surrounding lagoon has being leased to build, upgrade and operate the airport. The agreement to lease Hulhulé to Maldives Airports Company Ltd for 50 years was officially signed between Ministry of Finance and Treasury and Maldives Airports Company Ltd on 14th August 2000. Minister of State for Finance and Treasury Hon. Mr. Mohamed Jaleel signed the agreement on behalf of the Finance Ministry while the Managing Director Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim signed on behalf of Maldives Airports Company Ltd which was earlier called the Maldives Airports Authority.

2000

Dredging and land reclamation of land to build Hulhule Airport Hotel took place during 2000.

14th August 2000

A function was held at the Hulhulé Island Hotel on 14th August 2000 to introduce the 11-million dollar, 88 bedroom Hulhulé Island Hotel, which is a joint venture between Maldives Airports Company Ltd and Maldives In-flight Catering.

2000,2001

Sea plane operators base on the eastern side of the island were build from 2000,2001.

during 2001.

S Fuel farm upgrading which included 2500 metric tons  capacity oil tanks ( 3 ) were made during 2001.

21st December 2006

The Domestic Terminal of Male' International Airport was opened on the 21st December 2006 at 22:15 by the President His Excellency Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom.