President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said that the airport being constructed at Noonu Maafaru will be one of the biggest, most modern airports.

The President said this while speaking at a Parliamentary campaign event at Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Noonu Manadhoo. He added that the cooperation of Maafaru citizens will be required to ensure that the airport is one of the biggest airport in Maldives. As such President Solih noted that while the airport was said to house a 2,200 meter long runway, the developers have urged an additional 1,000 meters be added. He said that this extension of the runway will allow some of the biggest aircrafts of the world to land at Maafaru Airport.  The President noted that he would like to ensure that Maafaru Airport has the facilities to land some of the biggest planes in the world.

He noted however that some housing near the airport runway location will need to be displaced to allow the extension. The President said that the displacement of homes to build the runway will be carried out through an exchange of appropriate compensation for the homes. He said that the cooperation of Maafaru citizens and the Local Council will go on to establish one of the biggest and most modern airports in Maldives.

Additionally, the President said that the airport is a vital development for the progress of that region. He said that the former administration of President Yameen had handed the project through an agreement made with the government. He noted that the terms of the agreement had still not been met when the project began a s the transition of government took place.

President Solih said that the agreement stated granting ownership of two uninhabited islands to developers of the airport. He said however that government findings concluded that both the uninhabited islands that were to be granted under this agreement had already been leased for other purposes. He noted that the current administration is working on seeking a solution to this issue at this time.