Island Aviation Service Limited (IASL) has inaugurated its first engineering service building. The building was named as “Ali Firaq Engineering Service Building”, after the late Ali Firaq, a long-serving member of the company’s engineering department.
The building was officially opened by the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Mohamed Ameen, and IASL’s Managing Director Ibrahim Iyas at a special ceremony held at Velana International Airport (VIA) on Sunday.
Speaking at the ceremony, Iyas said the idea for the facility was first proposed by Ali Firaq in 2015. The project’s proposal was prepared in 2016, and presented to the company’s management. In 2021, the company’s board approved the budget for this project, and the construction contract was awarded in 2022.
Iyas described the inauguration as a historic milestone for IASL, stating that it was as a dream come true made possible through the dedication and hard work of many.
"This building will provide numerous facilities to our employees. It will also improve the working environment and as well as the quality of work. This building is the first building we have built to manage the company's aircraft spare parts. This is a major investment for this company’s future,” he said.
Staff members working in the engineering department of the national carrier Maldivian, which is operated by IASL, also noted that the building will speed up the work and efficiency, and provide greater convenience in daily work.
IASL further said it is working hard to strengthen its financial position by using its revenue in a more sustainable manner.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Transport Minister said the government’s aim is to turn IASL into a profitable company within the next one or two years. He said the facility’s inauguration marks a historic day in Maldivian’s journey, and said the opening of such a maintenance facility will ease the burden of maintenance work as well as reduce ongoing costs for the airline. The new engineering service building will also enhance safety and security, he said.
While Maldivian provides maintenance services to several international airlines operating flights to the Maldives, the Minister said the enhanced capacity will bring great benefit. While the construction and development of the facility took approximately ten years from conception to completion, he said the opening of the facility reflects the importance given by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu for the aviation sector.
"Our hope is that within the next one or two years, Island Aviation will become a self-sufficient company that can grow swiftly. This will be beneficial to the company’s staff as well” the Minister said.
Noting Maldivian’s role as the national carrier, Minister Ameen said the government is currently working to elevate its status to that of a national airline in its function and capability.