Gan International Airport

First built by the Royal Navy, and transferred to the Royal Air Force as RAF Gan, it was a military airbase used during World War II and until 1976. The first aircraft landed on the coral runway of Gan on 8th February 1943. It was a Westland Walrus. in 1976 the British handed over Gan to the government and it was used as a domestic airport.

The airport was run by the Government of Maldives (GoM) with technical assistance from Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) until January 2010. In June 2009 a public enterprise by the name of Gan Airport Company Limited (GACL) was established by H.E. President Mohamed Nasheed as part of GoM’s privatization policy. GACL took over management of GIA in January 2010.

To promote tourism and other economic activity in the south a new venture was formed early in 2012 to further develop and expand GIA. A joint venture was formed between GACL, MACL and State Trading Organization Plc (STO). The new venture is Addu International Airport Pvt Ltd (AIA). Gan International Airport is now owned and managed by Addu International Airport Pvt Ltd. As of 2020 70% of AIA is held by the government of Maldives & 30% by KASA Holdings Pvt Ltd.