Maldives Airports Company Limited (Maldives Airports Company Limited) has revised aircraft operating procedures at Velana International Airport after reduced visibility caused by deteriorating air quality affected parts of the Maldives.
In a statement, MACL said additional precautionary measures are introduced whenever visibility is compromised by factors such as smoke, haze or heavy rainfall. The company stressed that these steps form part of standard aviation safety protocols and are applied whenever conditions require enhanced operational safeguards.
Under the revised procedures, MACL said Visual Flight Rules (VFR) may be temporarily suspended when visibility falls below five kilometres. In such cases, operations are shifted to Special Visual Flight Rules (SVFR), which provide additional operational flexibility while maintaining safety standards during low-visibility conditions.
MACL noted that the use of SVFR is conducted in strict accordance with regulations set by the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority and international standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Reiterating its focus on safety, the company said the revised measures are aimed at ensuring the continued security of both domestic and international flights, while minimising disruption to passengers during periods of adverse air quality and weather.
According to the Maldives Meteorological Service, air quality conditions on Wednesday were among the worst recorded in recent days, with visibility dropping to as low as 1.5 kilometres in some areas. The Met Office said visibility across much of the country has generally hovered around two kilometres, though conditions are expected to gradually improve by Sunday.
In the meantime, the Meteorological Service has advised travellers to exercise caution, particularly during peak hours when visibility tends to be lowest. The Health Protection Agency has also urged individuals with underlying health conditions to wear masks when outdoors as a precaution against poor air quality.
