Nasheed Backs Indian Company for Hanimadhoo Airport Operations

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has voiced support for handing over the operational management of Hanimadhoo International Airport to an Indian company, describing it as a positive move. Speaking at a campaign event for Male’ mayoral candidate Ali Azim, Nasheed emphasized the potential benefits of this arrangement, particularly in improving the financial state of airports in the Maldives. Nasheed’s remarks follow reports that the Maldivian government had approached India’s Airports Authority of India (AAI) to study a proposal for managing the airport, which was recently redeveloped with Indian assistance. However, the Maldivian government has denied these reports, with Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen affirming that no airport operations will be handed over to foreign companies. Despite the government’s stance, Nasheed expressed optimism about the move, highlighting the irony of the current administration’s opposition to such arrangements in the past.