Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has participated in the Air Cargo China 2026 exhibition in Shanghai to promote Velana International Airport (VIA) as an air cargo transshipment hub.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, MACL met with airlines, cargo operators and logistics companies to explore stronger links with Asian markets, increased freighter flights, as well as expanded cargo connections to Europe, North America and the CIS region.
VIA is already a reliable regional and international cargo transshipment hub as a result of its geographical location, expanding airline networks and multimodal cargo services offered by the airport. According to statistics, VIA handled 36,367 tonnes of cargo in the first six months of the year, a 5 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, transshipment cargo increased by 15 percent, reaching 7,982 tonnes.
Freighter operations also saw major growth, with 358 freighter flights operated, carrying 2,925 tonnes of cargo. This is a 174 percent increase compared to the previous year. VIA recorded a single-day record on 12 July, handling 140 tonnes of transshipment cargo.
China was the second-largest source of transshipment cargo to the Maldives during the first half of the year, with Sri Lanka being the largest. The largest volume of cargo was transported to the United States through the Maldives, amounting to approximately 1,618 tonnes of cargo.
MACL highlighted the Sea-to-Air service, launched in 2024, which has transported more than 5,000 tonnes of cargo through 17 airlines from regional ports such as Colombo, Mumbai, Dhaka, and Tuticorin to destinations in Europe and North America.
MACL expects airlines to increase capacity and introduce new routes, including to the United Kingdom, during the 2026 and 2027 winter season. The company aims to position VIA as a recognised regional cargo transshipment hub.