Velana International Airport (VIA) handled 18,457 tonnes of cargo during the second quarter of 2026, according to figures released by Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).
The total represents a modest 2 percent rise over the first quarter and reflects sustained demand for both inbound and outbound freight.
Inbound cargo dominated the numbers, accounting for 13,542 tonnes of goods imported into the Maldives, while outbound shipments totalled 4,915 tonnes. Transshipment activity showed the most pronounced uptick, with 3,650 tonnes processed—a 26 percent increase from the first quarter. Of this, 3,116 tonnes moved via air‑to‑air transfers and 534 tonnes through sea‑to‑air links.
Freighter movements also climbed, reaching 94 flights in the quarter, up 12 percent from the previous three‑month period. The growth aligns with the government’s broader strategy to expand VIA’s cargo capabilities.
The new cargo terminal, inaugurated in mid‑January 2025, currently offers a handling capacity of 120,000 tonnes per year. The government aims to boost that capacity to 300,000 tonnes to support the nation’s trade ambitions.
In a complementary initiative, MACL and the Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) have launched joint sea‑to‑air cargo services. Eleven airlines now participate, enabling goods from three countries to be imported, consolidated, and re‑exported by air, further strengthening the Maldives’ position as a regional logistics hub.