News
Velana International Airport receives Airport Health Accreditation Certificate from Airport Council International
After consistent measures in our fight against COVID-19, we are happy to announce that Velana International Airport (VIA) has received the much awaited “Airport Health Accreditation” by Airport Council International (ACI).
Velana International Airport is the 2nd airport in the Asia Pacific Region to receive the ACI Airport Health Accreditation. The certification was awarded by a special letter sent to our CEO & MD Mr. Gordon Stewart by ACI World’s Director General Mr. Luis Felipe de Oliveira on 31st August 2020.
“I wish to extend my congratulations to you and the team at Maldives Airports Company Ltd accreditation in the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Health Accreditation programme.” Says ACI World’s Director General Mr. Luis Felipe de Oliveira.
VIA achieved the certification by completing a tight assessment by ACI in alignment with the guidelines for health measures established by ICAO, CART, EASA, and ACI recovery guidance, including ACI EUROPE’s Guidelines for a Healthy Passenger Experience at Airports.
ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation programme assists airports by assessing new health measures and procedures introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force recommendations. Areas of assessment for accreditation include cleaning and disinfection, physical distancing (where feasible and practical), staff protection, physical layout, passenger communications and passenger facilities.
Commenting on the success of “Airport Health Accreditation” program, CEO & MD Mr. Stewart said, “This achievement proves that the health and safety measures we are practicing at VIA are in alignment with international best practices ensuring health and safety of our passengers, employees and other airport stakeholders. Safety is our utmost priority and we never compromise on any of our set standards. To have successfully passed the strict audit by ACI demonstrates that our airport is a safe place to visit. This achievement will no doubt build our passenger confidence and also this would be a boost to Destination Maldives. This is the result of consistent efforts by our Team and stakeholders and I thank each and every one who were involved."
About ACI Airport Health Accreditation Programme
The ACI Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) programme provides airports with an assessment of how aligned their health measures are with the ACI Aviation Business Restart and Recovery guidelines and ICAO Council Aviation Restart Task Force recommendations along with industry best practices.
Benefits of ACI Airport Health Accreditation:
- Enables airports to demonstrate to passengers, staff, regulators, and governments that they are prioritizing health and safety in a measurable, established manner.
- Enables airports to validate their own measures throughout their facilities and processes.
- Reassures the travelling public using the airport’s facilities.
- Promotes the recognition of professional excellence in maintaining safe hygienic facilities.
- Promotes best practices and aligns efforts across the industry, and
- Ensures harmonization between ICAO global guidance and industry implementation.
- Accreditation is voluntary with a request to join the programme initiated by the airport.
Process
The Accreditation is based on guidance from the ICAO CART Take-Off document and ACI Recovery and Restart Best Practices which supplement the CART approach. They are consistent with CAPSCA recommendations for States, taking an airport centric approach to common requirements.
Topics include cleaning and disinfection, physical distancing (where feasible and practical), staff protection, physical layout, passenger communications and passenger facilities.
About Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL)
Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) is a 100% government owned limited liability company incorporated under the Companies Act of the Rep of Maldives. MACL is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Privatisation & Corporatisation Board of the Maldives. The Corporate Office of MACL is on the island of Hulhule’, Republic of Maldives.
Maldives Airports Company is the operator of Velana International Airport and has been massively involved in destination marketing and bringing in new airlines to the Maldives to boost up the tourism industry. MACL has embarked on one of the biggest projects in the history of Maldives in developing the future Velana International Airport such as the development of a brand new international passenger terminal, a new code F runway, a new cargo terminal complex and a new fuel farm along with hydrant system and major infrastructure developments at Velana International Airport.