Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has reported that more than 1,900 tonnes of transshipment were handled at Velana International Airport (VIA) in August, the highest monthly volume recorded to date.

Transshipment involves goods brought into the Maldives en route to another country, placed under customs control before being shipped onwards.

The service is offered in two forms: air-to-air cargo and sea-to-air cargo. The latter enables goods arriving by sea via Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) to be quickly and securely exported to their final destinations by air.

A total of 6,879 tonnes of cargo were transported in the first six months of this year, including 5,621 tonnes of air-to-air cargo and 1,258 tonnes of sea-to-air cargo.

MACL has stated that more airlines are joining its transshipment services, which continue to expand and strengthen VIA’s cargo operations. The company also added that VIA’s participation in global cargo connectivity enhances economic activity in the Maldives.