Velana International Airport (VIA) handled 18,457 tonnes of cargo during the second quarter of 2026, with a sharp increase in transshipment activity contributing to continued growth in the airport’s freight operations.
Figures released by Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) show total cargo volumes between April and June increased by two percent compared with the first quarter of the year.
Imports continued to dominate cargo traffic, accounting for 13,542 tonnes, while exports stood at 4,915 tonnes during the three-month period.
The strongest growth was recorded in transshipment operations, where volumes climbed 26 percent quarter-on-quarter to 3,650 tonnes.
Of this, 3,116 tonnes were handled through air-to-air transshipment, where cargo arriving on one flight is transferred through VIA for onward transportation on another aircraft.
A further 534 tonnes were processed through the airport’s developing sea-to-air logistics service. The model allows shipments arriving in the Maldives by sea to be transferred to VIA and subsequently flown to overseas destinations, positioning the country as an intermediate logistics point between regional markets and international air routes.
Dedicated freighter activity also increased during the quarter. VIA handled 94 cargo flight movements, representing a 12 percent rise from the first three months of 2026.
The latest figures come as MACL works to expand VIA’s role beyond its traditional function as the Maldives’ main passenger gateway, with cargo and transshipment services increasingly forming part of the airport’s broader development strategy.
A key component of that expansion is the airport’s new cargo terminal, which opened in January 2025. The facility has the capacity to process approximately 120,000 tonnes of cargo annually, significantly increasing the volume of freight that can be handled through VIA.
There are plans to eventually raise annual cargo handling capacity to 300,000 tonnes, supporting ambitions to accommodate greater freight volumes and strengthen the Maldives’ position in regional trade and logistics.
MACL has also partnered with Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) to develop the sea-to-air cargo model, combining the Maldives’ maritime connectivity with VIA’s international aviation network.
At present, 11 airlines participate in the sea-to-air service, with cargo originating from three countries transported to the Maldives by sea before being consolidated and re-exported by air.
The model offers shippers an alternative to moving cargo entirely by air or sea, using maritime transport for the first stage before taking advantage of faster air connections for onward delivery.
Expansion of such services is part of efforts to establish VIA as a regional cargo transshipment hub, allowing the Maldives to capitalise on its geographic position and growing airport and port infrastructure while creating new economic activity beyond conventional passenger aviation.
