Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has announced that more than 1,200 tonnes of cargo have been transported to global destinations via the sea-to-air cargo service in the first half of this year.

According to MPL, the total volume of cargo shipped between January and June reached 1,222 tonnes, equivalent to 271 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). The figures reflect the growing success of the initiative, which was launched jointly by Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) and MPL in March of the previous year.

The sea-to-air cargo service was introduced to facilitate the transshipment of goods arriving in the Maldives by sea before being dispatched by air to various international markets. MPL stated that this is a new logistics solution brought in under the current Administration, with Turkish Airlines being the first airline to partner with the programme.

Since its inception, the service has seen notable progress. In the first six months of this year alone, ten international airlines have joined the initiative. During this period, cargo was sent from the Maldives to 15 destinations around the world; a significant step in the country's trade and logistics sector.

Airlines currently participating in the service include Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Etihad Airways, Swiss Airlines, Azerbaijan Airlines, Lufthansa, Saudi Airlines, Qatar Airways and ITA Airways. MPL reported that this growing network is contributing positively to the Maldivian economy, with millions of dollars entering the country as a result of the sea-to-air operations.

The company noted that the sea-to-air model is being implemented in several other countries worldwide and has been beneficial to their respective economies. This logistics approach, which combines maritime and air freight, is recognised for its efficiency in connecting global markets.

MPL highlighted that the Maldives, with its significant presence of international airlines, has considerable potential to expand this service further. The cargo transported under the current scheme typically originates from countries such as Bangladesh and is destined for markets including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and various parts of Europe.