RACL celebrates third anniversary

Regional Airports Company Limited (RACL) has celebrated its three year anniversary and have set their goals for the future.

The company celebrated three years of its existence with a special function. Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director of the company, Ahmed Mubeen, said that the company aims to expand the services of the airports under its jurisdiction and provide all the necessary services to the passengers at the airports. Efforts will be made to set up essential services such as prayer rooms, feeding rooms, and cafés and airports that currently lack them, he said.

Mubeen said that when the airports were handed over to RACL, most of them were of poor quality. He said that such airports have since been upgraded to meet the standards set by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and security measures have been developed and expanded to build quality people who can provide in-house training.

RACL operates seven airports in the country; six domestic airports and one international airport.

According to RACL, the company has achieved significant success in the past three years. This includes renewing the certificates that all airports are running to civil aviation standards, acquiring rapid scan brand authorization partner to improve the maintenance and downtime of X-ray machines used at airports and replacing faulty machines at airports.

These include sending 14 staff abroad to train to maintain security machines which the CAA approves, and opening of Faresmathoda Airport under the company's supervision.

Other achievements of the company include the development of Hanimaadhoo International Airport, the establishment of runway lights at Kulhudhuffushi Airport which allowed them to operate night flights and the introduction of round-the-clock services. The company also hails the project of setting up the country's first fire simulator at Horafushi Airport and installing runway lights at Horafushi Airport and starting the testing phase as a success.

RACL said it is looking to start more operations soon. The company also highlights the construction of a passenger terminal at Kulhudhuffushi Airport and the development of a tourism zone on vacant land in the north.

Currently, RACL employs 100 percent local employees, with approximately 500 employees under its name.

RACL celebrated its third anniversary on January 11.