Maldivian to Hand Over Maldivian Aviation Academy to Private Foreign Company

Island Aviation Services Ltd (IASL) is in the process of ceasing its operation of the Maldivian Aviation Academy in Gan, Addu City, with plans to transfer management to a foreign-owned private entity.

The flight training school was established in 2022 through a partnership between IAS and the Maldives National University (MNU), following the closure of the Sri Lankan-operated Asian Academy of Aeronautics (AAA). The AAA had faced a series of complaints from students regarding academic delays and other operational challenges.

The new operator expected to take over is Zenith Aviation Academy, which was registered in the Maldives earlier this year. The academy is led by Managing Director Sandeep Kumar, with shareholders including Atoll Consultancy Pvt Ltd and Simplify Holdings Group Limited. The board of directors comprises Sandeep Kumar, Ismail Rasheed, and Smitha Hegdi, with Rasheed also serving as the Chief Operating Officer of the new academy.

According to Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen, IASL is moving forward with the transfer through a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) process. The minister noted that it is uncommon for airlines to directly manage flight schools, citing operational and financial challenges.

While IASL has not issued an official statement on the transition, students have been informed of the upcoming change in management. A website has also been launched under the name of Zenith Aviation Academy, featuring the Maldivian Aviation Academy’s branding, signaling the beginning of the transition phase.