Gan International Airport
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Gan International Airport ގަން ބައިނަލްއަޤްވާމީ ވައިގެބަނދަރު | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner/Operator | Addu International Airport Private Limited | ||||||||||
| Serves | Addu City, Maldives | ||||||||||
| Location | Gan, Addu City | ||||||||||
| Time zone | Maldives Time (MVT) (UTC+5) | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 2 m / 6 ft | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 00°41′36″S 073°09′20″E / 0.69333°S 73.15556°E | ||||||||||
| Website | GanAirport.com | ||||||||||
| Maps | |||||||||||
 Map of Addu Atoll in 1976 showing Gan and airfield | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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Gan International Airport (GIA) (IATA: GAN, ICAO: VRMG) is an international airport located on the island of Gan in Addu Atoll (previously known as Seenu Atoll) in the island nation of the Maldives.[2] As of June 2019, it is one of three international airports in the Maldives.
History[edit]
First built by the Royal Navy (RN) for its Fleet Air Arm (FAA), it was subsequently transferred to the Royal Air Force (RAF), becoming Royal Air Force Station Gan or RAF Gan. It was a British military airbase until 1976, used as a staging post for RAF aircraft flying to the Far East during World War II.[1] The first aircraft, an RAF Westland Walrus biplane, landed on the crushed coral runway of Gan on 8 February 1943.
In 1976, the RAF left Gan, having no further need for its facilities, and handed it over to the Maldives government. The island and airfield was left to fall into disrepair for many years. Funding was subsequently found to develop the island, and RAF Gan became a civilian domestic airport.
Current use[edit]
Gan Airport (in its civilian incarnation) was originally 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 President Mohamed Nasheed as part of GoM's privatisation policy. GACL took over management of Gan Airport in January 2010.
To promote tourism and other economic activity in the south Maldives, a venture was formed early in 2012 to further develop and expand Gan Airport to international airport standards. A joint venture was formed by GACL, MACL, and State Trading Organization Plc (STO). Renaming to Gan International Airport (GIA), the venture, Addu International Airport Private Limited (AIA), owns and manages Gan International Airport. As of 2020[update], 70% of AIA is held by the government of Maldives, and 30% by KASA Holdings Private Limited.
Facilities[edit]
Gan International Airport is capable of accommodating ICAO code 4E aircraft. The airport lies at an elevation of 6 feet (2 metres) above mean sea level. It has one paved runway designated 10/28, with a concrete surface, previously measuring 2,651 by 45 metres (8,698 by 148 feet) in 2010.[2] During the National Development Plan of the early 1980s, Gan runway was subsequently upgraded and extended in length by 980 metres (3,215 feet) to 3,600 by 45 metres (11,811 by 148 feet).[1]
Airlines and destinations[edit]
As of April 2024[update], the following airlines offer regularly scheduled services:[4]
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Maldivian | Malé |
| SriLankan Airlines | Colombo–Bandaranaike |
Statistics[edit]
As of April 2024[update], the only foreign operator to Gan is SriLankan Airlines[4] using Airbus A320 aircraft.
Accidents and incidents[edit]
- On 12 March 2019, a Maldivian Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 suffered a landing gear malfunction, due to which the plane circled around the airport for one hour. The aircraft landed safely, but the landing gear was not fully retracted. This was the first incident to occur at Gan International Airport.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Welcome to Gan International Airport". GanAirport.com. Addu International Airport Private Limited. 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ a b c "AIP Maldives - VRMG" (PDF). AviaInfo.gov.mv. Civil Aviation Department, Republic of Maldives. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ Airport information for GAN at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006). From DAFIF (effective October 2006).
- ^ a b "GAN airport destinations". Flightradar24. Retrieved 13 April 2024. Updated constantly.
External links[edit]
Media related to Gan International Airport at Wikimedia Commons
- Gan International Airport (GIA)
- Gan International Airport Facebook
- Gan International Airport Twitter
- FNS NOTAM search for VRMG
- Asian Academy of Aeronautics (AAA) — flying training school based at Gan International Airport
- Aeronautical chart and airport information for VRMG at SkyVector
- Accident history for GAN at Aviation Safety Network
- Aerial photograph of Gan airport aircraft parking apron and terminal