VIA Cargo Volume Rises 2% in Q2 as Transshipment Jumps 26%

Velana International Airport processed 18,457 tonnes of cargo in the second quarter of 2026, marking a 2 percent increase from the previous quarter as freight activity continued to grow.

Figures released by Maldives Airports Company Limited show that inbound cargo accounted for the majority of the volume, with 13,542 tonnes of goods arriving in the Maldives. Outbound shipments totalled 4,915 tonnes.

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Transshipment activity recorded the strongest quarterly increase, rising 26 percent to 3,650 tonnes. This included 3,116 tonnes transferred between aircraft and 534 tonnes moved through sea-to-air services.

The number of freighter flights also rose during the quarter, reaching 94 movements, up 12 percent from the first quarter.

The growth comes as the government seeks to develop VIA into a larger cargo and logistics centre. Its cargo terminal, which opened in January 2025, has an annual handling capacity of 120,000 tonnes. The government plans to increase this to 300,000 tonnes.

MACL and Maldives Ports Limited have also introduced joint sea-to-air cargo services involving 11 airlines. The service allows goods from three countries to be imported, consolidated and re-exported by air, supporting efforts to establish the Maldives as a regional logistics hub.