Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), in collaboration with the Health Protection Agency (HPA), successfully conducted a partial emergency exercise at Velana International Airport on Thursday, 6 August 2026, simulating the identification and management of a communicable disease incident involving an arriving aircraft.
The exercise was organised to evaluate the airport’s emergency preparedness and assess the effectiveness of coordination between relevant agencies in responding to a potential public health incident. It provided participating teams with an opportunity to test existing procedures, communication channels, operational responsibilities and response mechanisms under a controlled but realistic scenario.
BEOND Airline participated as the partner airline for the exercise, supporting the simulation and enabling emergency response teams to evaluate procedures associated with managing a suspected communicable disease case onboard an arriving aircraft. The airline’s involvement contributed to creating an operationally realistic environment for participating agencies and airport personnel.
MACL confirmed that the exercise was completed successfully without causing any disruption to normal airport operations or scheduled flights, demonstrating the ability of participating agencies to conduct preparedness activities while maintaining continuity of services at the country’s principal international aviation gateway.
Velana International Airport serves as the main entry point for international travellers arriving in the Maldives and plays a central role in supporting the country’s tourism-driven economy. Maintaining strong public health and emergency response arrangements at the airport is therefore an important component of safeguarding passengers, aviation personnel and the wider community while ensuring confidence in the Maldives as a safe and professionally managed global tourism destination.
The airport continues to undergo significant development as part of the Government’s broader efforts to strengthen national aviation infrastructure, improve passenger services and increase the Maldives’ capacity to accommodate continued growth in international travel. Alongside infrastructure expansion, operational preparedness and institutional coordination remain important elements in maintaining internationally recognised standards across airport services.
Regular emergency exercises conducted by MACL form part of its continuing programme to strengthen preparedness for a wide range of operational and public health scenarios. Such exercises allow authorities to assess the practical effectiveness of established emergency response plans while providing personnel with valuable experience in coordinated decision-making and implementation.
MACL said the exercises are also intended to identify potential gaps in existing response procedures and improve the overall readiness of personnel and agencies involved in airport emergency operations. By reviewing performance during simulated incidents, participating organisations are able to strengthen procedures, enhance communication and ensure responsibilities are clearly understood across different agencies.
The collaboration between MACL and HPA reflects the importance placed on coordinated public health preparedness at the Maldives’ primary international airport. Effective cooperation between aviation, health and other relevant authorities remains essential in ensuring that potential health-related incidents can be identified, contained and managed efficiently while minimising their impact on passengers and airport operations.
The successful completion of the exercise further supports ongoing Government and institutional efforts to maintain a resilient aviation sector capable of responding effectively to evolving operational and public health challenges. As international connectivity and visitor volumes continue to expand, maintaining strong emergency preparedness at Velana International Airport will remain an important part of protecting public health, supporting uninterrupted aviation services and strengthening confidence in the Maldives as a leading global travel destination.
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