MACL Renews ISAGO Accreditation, Receives Enhanced IATA GSE Status

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has retained international validation of its ground-handling management and operations, while receiving additional recognition for measures intended to reduce aircraft damage caused by ground equipment.

The company announced that it had renewed its IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations accreditation and registration. MACL also achieved recognition under the International Air Transport Association’s Enhanced Ground Support Equipment programme.

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ISAGO is a global safety oversight programme for companies providing ground-handling services at airports. It assesses whether their management systems and operational procedures conform to international standards covering areas such as passenger handling, baggage, aircraft movement, cargo and ramp operations.

Under the programme, IATA registration follows an audit of the ground service provider’s corporate management systems. Station accreditation is granted separately after the operations implemented at a particular airport station are assessed. Both are awarded after identified findings have been addressed and generally remain valid for 24 months.

The system is intended to improve consistency across ground-handling operations while reducing the need for individual airlines to conduct repeated audits of the same service provider.

MACL’s Enhanced GSE Recognition relates specifically to the ground support equipment used around aircraft. The IATA programme assesses whether an operator’s equipment fleet meets safety and operational criteria designed to reduce ground damage.

Enhanced GSE includes equipment fitted with anti-collision systems. Ground equipment operating close to aircraft can include passenger stairs, belt loaders and cargo loaders, making equipment condition, operator procedures and proximity controls important elements of ramp safety.

IATA incorporated the Enhanced GSE assessment into relevant ISAGO station audits from 2025. Successful recognition indicates that a ground handler’s equipment fleet at the assessed station has met the programme’s applicable requirements.

The renewed registration and accreditation indicate continued compliance with IATA’s ground-handling framework, while the additional equipment recognition places greater focus on preventing incidents during aircraft turnaround and other ramp activities.