The Government of India has requested the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to examine a proposal from the Maldives seeking Indian assistance in operating and managing the recently upgraded Hanimaadhoo International Airport. The move signals renewed engagement in aviation cooperation between the two countries, even as past commercial disputes continue to influence decision-making.
The request was formally conveyed to India’s Civil Aviation Minister, K. Ram Mohan Naidu, during the inauguration of the airport on 9 November 2025, where he attended as a special envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following the communication, the Ministry of Civil Aviation directed AAI to evaluate the feasibility of involving Indian entities in the airport’s management.
AAI is one of the world’s largest airport operators, owning 113 airports across India and managing 26 airports on behalf of state governments. In addition, 13 AAI-owned airports are currently operated by private players such as GMR, GVK, and the Adani Group under long-term concession agreements.
India has played a central role in the modernisation of Hanimaadhoo International Airport as part of broader bilateral development cooperation. The project was supported through an $800 million line of credit extended by the Export-Import Bank of India. The $136.6 million redevelopment contract was awarded to Indian infrastructure company JMC Projects.
The upgraded airport features a 2,465-metre runway capable of accommodating narrow-body aircraft such as the Airbus A320, along with a new terminal designed to handle up to 1.3 million passengers annually. Maldivian authorities view the project as a key driver for economic growth in the northern atolls by improving regional connectivity and tourism access.
However, the proposal comes against the backdrop of the long-standing fallout from the earlier GMR episode, which remains a sensitive chapter in India–Maldives commercial relations. In 2012, the Maldivian government abruptly terminated GMR’s $511 million concession to modernise and operate Malé International Airport, ordering the company to exit the country within a week.
The dispute led to prolonged legal proceedings, culminating in a 2016 arbitration ruling in Singapore that awarded GMR $270 million in compensation. The episode continues to shape Indian corporate and government caution when considering airport management opportunities in the island nation.
AAI’s assessment of the current proposal is expected to take into account both operational feasibility and the broader strategic and commercial risks involved, as India evaluates its role in managing critical infrastructure assets in the Maldives.
