The Ground Handling & Airport Services in the Maldives is provided by the sole Ground Handler, Maldivian Airports Company Limited (MACL). In addition to Ground Handling, all Airport Services come under their purview. As such, all foreign airlines operating to the Maldives, tend to utilize the services of a GSSA to facilitate smooth operations pre, on-ground and post arrival for their flights, to ensure compliance of their SOP’s.

While our services of Ground Supervision and Airport Representation carry out a vast scope of services for the Airline Principals, we are also in the business of Airline Representation as a GSA for Passenger & Cargo Sales, Marketing, Distribution and Financial Services on behalf of Airlines.

Aviation Services Maldives is a joint venture between the Acorn Group (www.acorn.lk) in Sri Lanka, which is in the forefront of Airline Representation and Services in Sri Lanka, currently having several leading Airlines under its portfolio and BestBuy Maldives, a leading Business House in the Maldives. With a reputation for providing outstanding services to our Principals, we dominate both Sri Lanka’s General Sales Agency and the Maldives General Sales Agency landscape. Our long experience in Sri Lanka is well-established and has enabled us to grow regionally, with a partnership in Thailand and offices in Dubai and Cambodia. We, at Aviation Services, with our unique team of service specialists with many years of experience, offer full professional Passenger and Ramp supervision services and exclusive 24/7 services to our Airline Principals. Our experienced professionals in ramp and cargo handling, maintain close liaison with the Ground Handler, MACL to ensure proper execution of formalities to the satisfaction of our Principals of Scheduled, Charter and Adhoc flights.

Aviation Services is the present Passenger General Sales Agent for Etihad Airways, IndiGo and FitsAir in the Maldives. We also currently provide Ground Supervision services to IndiGo from the inception of their flights to the Maldives and to Etihad Airways. In addition, we have extended Ground Supervision Services to Himalaya Airlines and US Bangla Airlines charter flights to the Maldives.

Aviation Services GSSA Services

Our Airport Supervision services are highlighted below. A team capable of handling the required services has been and would continue to be assigned to the Airline:

Flight Permits

With our strong relationship with MACL and the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority, we are able to assist the Airlines to get the required landing / over-flying / slot permit approvals within a very short time frame.

Assistance with Regulatory Approvals

Regulatory requirements for a Passenger and Cargo Operation

Aviation Services specializes in providing the necessary support to fulfill the regulatory requirements related to Licensing and Ground Supervision of Passenger and Cargo, carrying out a vast scope of services for the Airline Principal. Aviation Services would communicate with the Airline and coordinate with the relevant authorities on operational matters. We have the ability to liaise with all the government and regulatory authorities due to our close working relationships formed over the years.

Our Connect in the Maldives

THE MALDIVES CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (MCAA)
• Assist in preparation and submission of documentation required to obtain/renew the Foreign Air Operators Certificate (FAOC)

MALDIVES AIRPORT COMPANY LIMITED (MACL)

• Support and co-ordinate Landing and Parking approvals

• If required, arrange for lounge facilities on behalf of the Airline

• Mediate with MACL to obtain the preferred SLOTS required by the Airline

• Support and co-ordinate Ground Handling Agreement for the Airline

• Support and coordinate with Ground Handler to set up the Departure Control System

• Co-ordinate with MACL Catering, support with contracts for aircraft cleaning, meal uplift etc. if required by the Airline

• Provide assistance in coordinating with Engineering Service Providers

• Liaise with MACL to assist to obtain contracts, payment plans with to ensure unrestricted fuel supplies

MALDIVES IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION

• Ensure the Airline is in compliance with all guidelines and procedures

MALDIVES CUSTOMS

• Obtain and forward all requirements of Maldives Customs to the Airline to ensure compliance of all guidelines and timely payments, if any

MALDIVES MEDIA & PR COMPANY (MMPRC)

• Liaise with MMPRC to support any promotional activities, if required by the Airline

THE MALDIVES INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT

• To check on tax liabilities if any

Representation & Supervision Services

Aviation Services, with our unique team of service specialists offer full professional Passenger and Ramp Supervision at the airport. Our experienced professionals would ensure compliance with the standard operating procedures in Passenger Handling, Ramp and Cargo supervision, maintaining close liaison with the Ground Handler, MACL to ensure proper execution of formalities to the satisfaction of our Principals.

Our Supervision also includes the following services, with our experienced staff adhering to all the safety protocols. Our team will ensure that the following services are provided by the GHA in keeping with SOP’s laid down by the Principal.

Passenger Supervision Services

• Liaise with MMPRC to support any promotional activities, if required by the Airline

• Supervision of check-in counters and ensuring compliance with the Airline’s Standard Operating Procedures.

• Supervision of arrivals including baggage transfers.

• MAAS of incoming passengers, if required through MACL.

• Assistance on lost, damaged and transfer baggage processes of incoming passengers (if any).

• Liaising with MACL on the screening and acceptance of outgoing baggage.

• Coordination of incoming and outgoing, VIP, unaccompanied minors, and special care passenger services.

• Liaising with authorities for specially trained personnel for disabled/stretcher/medical passenger handling.

• Liaising with AVSECOM to ensure aircraft security.

• Provide information to the Airline in case of any disruption and liaise with the Ground Handler (MACL)

Ramp Supervision Services

• Supervision of offloading and loading the aircraft (Baggage and Cargo) by MACL.

• Facilitating Ground Power Unit, Air Condition Unit and Aircraft Push-Back Tractor services through MACL.

• Supervision of interior cleaning, toilet, and water services to the aircraft to ensure OTP is met.

• Supervision of passenger and crew transport between Aircraft and Passenger terminals.

• Instruct MACL at the Baggage Makeup area to ensure 100% ULD compliance.

• Supervision and liaising with MACL on the storage and stock control of pallets, containers, and other unit load devices.

Load Control and Communication

• Coordination of aircraft servicing units.

• Coordination with MACL and distribution of flight documents (customs declaration, loading instruction, load sheet, manifest, NOTOC).

• Coordination with MACL for load control, weight, and balance calculations.

• Transmission and reception of all operational messages (passenger manifest, LDM, CPM, UCM).

Flight Operations Supervision Services

• ATC Flight Plan filing and monitoring.

• Distribution of flight plan to the cabin crew.

• Coordination with fuel and aircraft catering companies.

• Distribution of weather forecasts and navigation information to the crew.

• Facilitating Communication between the Airline base and operating crew.

• Dispatching of aircraft movement messages to required parties.

• Monitor and reduce number of safety events during aircraft movement on ground and reduce ground damage during ground operations.

Ground Supervision Administration

• Assistance with the required landing, over-flying, and slot permit approvals in the Maldives.

• Facilitating the required licenses including Ground Handling and Catering agreements.

• Liaise with MACL fuel suppliers.

• Assisting with crew accommodation & transfer contracts.

• Monitor the station’s stationary stock.

• Action and respond to emails received by Airport Operations.

• Promote ancillary revenue selling.

• Ensure Airline’s branding is correctly placed during operations.

• Meeting post-flight administrative guidelines and documentation.

In-Flight Catering Services

• Liaise with Maldives Inflight Catering, to ensure in-flight meals and beverages supplied are in accordance with the Airline’s standards.

• Assistance with pre-order of in-flight meals and implementing a top up system in advance of a pre-arranged time to ensure zero meal wastage.

Mishandled Baggage Delivery Service

• Assist to facilitate delivery service for passengers with mishandled baggage or crew baggage.

• Co-ordinate with Airlines Baggage Services on tracking and arrival of baggage.

• Communication to passengers on delivery details.

Cargo Airport Supervision

• Monitoring all areas of cargo operations i.e., weighing and acceptance of cargo, build-up of cargo, manifesting and preparation of NOTOC and required documents, ramp and loading to flight.

• Physical monitoring of the accepted cargo for any damages, packing and labelling, short weight etc., execution of AWB, flight planning, manifesting, and updating of departing cargo on system, pre-alerts for perishable shipments.

• Maintaining ULD stock and dispatch of related messages, whenever its applicable.

• Supervise the breakdown of import cargo and ensure the safe distribution of cargo to importers and ensure recovery action is taken for mishandled cargo.

• Supervise Post Office mail handling.

• Attend to tracers for missing cargo and to file damage and loss reports when necessary. Ensure recovery action is taken for mishandled cargo.

• Ensure safe acceptance, handling and loading of Dangerous Goods if applicable.

• Ensure safe handling of valuables and special cargo departing from station.

• Monitor the transfer of transhipment cargo.

• Sort out export and import flight documentation, maintain station records, and dispatch relevant documentation to the Principal’s Accounting Division.

Our Deliverables

The team recruited to service Etihad Airways flights would ensure full compliance of the functions expected of the Supervision Agents. Together with the Ground Supervision Services provided, we would adhere to the key tasks identified below. We would also ensure that the candidates recruited fit the profiles required.

Additional Services

Financial Services

• Cash sales collections at the airport, documentation and remittance in accordance with Airline’s guidelines.

• Provision of a petty cash facility at the airport, if required.

• Making payments and/or issuing bank guarantees on behalf of the airline to related authorities such as terminal operators, airport authorities, customs etc. on account of all services provided as per respective contracts (subject to conditions).

Administrative Services

• Establishing and maintaining contact with local authorities in the name of the airline company.

• Preparing, transmitting, and filing reports, statistics, documents, etc. related to flights.