Aviation Histrory of Maldives

The first runway built on Hulhulé Island was made of slotted steel sheets. This runway was built on a strip of cleared ground in the middle of a small island called Hulhulé, which was an inhabited island then and was opened on 19th October 1960. The dimension of this runway was 75 x 3000 feet. The first aircraft, which landed on this runway, was a Royal New Zealand Air Force Transport plane on 19th of October 1960 at 13:55hrs. The first Air Ceylon flight landed on this runway was at 15:50hrs on 10th April 1962. The registration number of the Air Ceylon flight is 4R-ACJ. The first aircraft owned by the Maldives landed on the runway of the Hulhulé Airport on 9th October 1974.

A decision to remove the first runway made of slotted steel sheets was made by the government in order to build a new improved airport in its place. The announcement of this decision was made on 27th April 1964. Announcement of the replacement of slotted steel sheet runway by an asphalt runway was issued by Vuzaarathul Dhaakhiliyya (Ministry of Home Affairs). On the first day itself 08 volunteers were enlisted for the project and 1563.08 Maldivian Rufiya were donated and the government received whole hearted support from the Maldivian people – both financially and material wise. Removal of the slotted steel sheets, which the British had laid out as a runway, was started at 6.00am of the first day of May 1964.

The following years showed a steady increase in traffic as a result of International technological development and the closer ties with the outside world. It was time to provide a better system of air traffic to and from the Maldives – time for a modern airport to serve the fast developing country.

His Excellency President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom officially inaugurated Malé International Airport on the 11th of November 1981. The airport is a symbol of the unwavering determination and untiring efforts of the people of the Maldives, and a great achievement in the development of aviation facilities at