Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has renewed its international accreditation for ground handling operations while also securing recognition for the safety standards of its ground support equipment fleet.
The state-owned airport operator announced that it has successfully renewed its IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) accreditation and IATA registration.
MACL has also achieved IATA Enhanced Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Recognition, adding a new international recognition covering equipment used during aircraft ground operations.
The company described the achievement as another milestone in its efforts to maintain high standards of safety, service quality and operational performance.
The latest accreditation follows MACL’s sixth ISAGO audit, which was conducted from April 26 to 30 this year. The audit examined the company’s ground operations against standards established by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
ISAGO is an internationally recognised audit programme specifically developed for organisations providing ground handling services.
It assesses operational management and control systems as well as activities associated with aircraft handling, passenger and baggage services, cargo operations and ramp handling.
For MACL, maintaining the accreditation is particularly significant because of the scale of ground operations at Velana International Airport (VIA), the country’s main international aviation gateway.
MACL operates and develops VIA and is responsible for major airport infrastructure and services, including passenger terminals, cargo facilities and Noovilu Seaplane Terminal. The government-owned company employs more than 3,000 people across its operations.
Alongside the renewed ISAGO status, MACL’s Enhanced GSE Recognition places additional emphasis on reducing risks associated with vehicles and machinery operating around aircraft.
Ground support equipment includes machinery used to service aircraft while they are on the ground, including belt loaders, cargo loaders, passenger stairs and other specialised vehicles.
IATA introduced its Enhanced GSE Recognition Programme in 2024 as part of an industry effort to reduce aircraft damage caused during ground operations.
Enhanced GSE incorporates technology such as anti-collision systems, proximity sensors and features that improve vehicle control and docking accuracy when equipment approaches an aircraft.
According to IATA, ground support equipment operations are a significant contributor to aircraft damage on the ground. The organisation estimates that wider adoption of Enhanced GSE could substantially reduce both the frequency and financial impact of such incidents.
The recognition process involves an assessment of a ground handling provider’s equipment fleet at a specific airport. Operators that meet IATA’s criteria receive recognition valid for 24 months.
From 2025, the Enhanced GSE assessment was incorporated into ISAGO station audits where ramp operations fall within the scope of the audit, linking equipment safety more closely with the wider ground handling assessment process.
IATA currently lists MACL at Velana International Airport among the ground handling service providers participating in the Enhanced GSE programme.
The latest certifications come as VIA undergoes one of the largest periods of infrastructure expansion in its history, including the development and operation of its new international passenger terminal and other upgrades aimed at increasing airport capacity.
As passenger and aircraft movements grow alongside the expansion, ground handling capacity and the safety of equipment operating around aircraft are expected to remain an important part of VIA’s operations.
MACL said the successful renewal and new recognition reflect the work of its employees in maintaining international aviation standards and industry best practices.
