Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has secured the renewal of key international aviation certifications for its ground operations, while also receiving new recognition from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the use of safer ground support equipment.
MACL confirmed that its IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) accreditation and IATA registration have been successfully renewed.
The company has also received IATA Enhanced Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Recognition, which focuses on improving the safety of equipment operating around aircraft and reducing the risk of damage during ground handling.
The latest achievement follows MACL’s sixth ISAGO audit, conducted from April 26 to 30 this year.
ISAGO is an internationally recognised programme developed by IATA to assess the operational management and control systems of ground handling service providers.
The audit covers key areas of airport operations, including aircraft handling and loading, passenger and baggage services, cargo handling and ramp operations.
MACL provides a range of ground handling services at Velana International Airport (VIA), the country’s primary international gateway and the airport through which the majority of tourists visiting the Maldives enter the country.
The addition of Enhanced GSE Recognition places a particular focus on the equipment used around aircraft while they are parked on the ground.
Ground support equipment includes vehicles and machinery such as baggage and belt loaders, passenger stairs, cargo loaders and other specialised equipment required to service aircraft between arrival and departure.
IATA introduced the Enhanced GSE Recognition Programme in 2024 as part of efforts to reduce aircraft ground damage.
The programme encourages ground handling operators to adopt equipment equipped with technologies designed to minimise collisions and other incidents around aircraft. These can include proximity detection systems, anti-collision technology and features that improve the control of vehicles as they approach an aircraft.
According to IATA, greater adoption of enhanced ground support equipment has the potential to significantly reduce aircraft damage caused during ground operations.
The Enhanced GSE assessment has also been incorporated into relevant ISAGO station audits since 2025, allowing equipment standards to be assessed alongside the wider safety and operational practices of ground handling providers.
MACL is currently listed by IATA among ground handling service providers participating in the Enhanced GSE programme at Velana International Airport.
The renewed accreditation comes during a period of major change at VIA.
The airport has undergone extensive expansion in recent years, with major infrastructure projects aimed at increasing passenger handling capacity and preparing the country’s main aviation gateway for continued growth in international traffic.
A major component of the expansion is the new international passenger terminal, which has substantially increased the airport’s capacity compared with the previous terminal.
Other developments have included a new runway, expanded fuel facilities, the Noovilu Seaplane Terminal and improvements to other airport infrastructure and services.
As VIA expands, ground operations are also becoming increasingly important, with larger passenger volumes and additional aircraft movements requiring greater capacity in baggage handling, ramp operations and other services carried out between flights.
MACL said the successful renewal of its ISAGO accreditation and the Enhanced GSE Recognition demonstrate the company’s continued commitment to safety, operational quality and internationally accepted aviation practices.
The company attributed the achievement to its employees and their work in maintaining the standards required under the international programmes.
