Maldives Ships 162 Tonnes of Cargo Through Sea-To-Air Service in May

The Maldives exported 162 tonnes of cargo to seven countries through its sea-to-air cargo service during May, according to statistics released by Maldives Ports Limited (MPL).

The volume shipped during the month was equivalent to 29 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), highlighting continued use of the service introduced to strengthen the country’s position as a regional logistics hub.

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Cargo was transported to seven international destinations through five airlines: Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines and Turkish Airlines.

The sea-to-air model involves transporting goods to the Maldives by sea before forwarding them to their final destinations by air. The approach combines the lower costs of maritime transport with the speed of air freight, offering an alternative to traditional all-sea or all-air shipping methods.

The service was officially launched on 15 May 2024 as a joint initiative between Maldives Airports Company Limited and Maldives Ports Limited. The project aims to utilise the Maldives’ expanding network of international air connections to facilitate faster and more cost-effective cargo movement.

Industry stakeholders have identified sea-to-air cargo operations as a proven logistics solution that can reduce transit times, lower shipping costs and improve access to international markets. With a growing number of international airlines serving the Maldives, authorities see potential to expand the service further by adding new airline partners and destination markets.