Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has stated it is preparing to make its operations more efficient for the upcoming peak season for tourism.
Speaking at the Air Traffic Controllers Day ceremony, Deputy Managing Director Ibrahim Thoha praised controllers for safely coordinating the flights of thousands of aircraft every day. He also noted that Maldivians and tourists travel to various parts of the country to spend their year-end holiday, making the jobs of controllers more demanding.
Additionally, Thoha said 1,200 flights are in operation over Maldivian airspace every day, out of which 800 aircraft are operating from Velana International Airport (VIA). He highlighted that air traffic controllers have participated in numerous training programmes to specialise them in the operations of the new runway at VIA.
Air traffic control operations began in the Maldives in 1970 in a limited capacity. The air traffic tower was established in 1983 upon the opening of the VIA under the name of Male’ International Airport.