1000 tonnes of goods exported via Sea-to-Air cargo

To date, 1000 tonnes of goods have been exported through the Sea-to-Air cargo trans-shipment services provided at Velana International Airport (VIA).

Maldives Airports Company Ltd, which operates VIA said that with Virgin Atlantic now having joined, 12 airlines are currently providing the service. Other airlines providing the service are Turkish Airlines, Qatar, Emirates, Etihad, Aeroflot, Neos, Gulf Air, Discover, Austrian, Condo and British Airways.

Sea-to-Air service allows for goods brought in by sea via Maldives Ports Limited to be speedily and securely exported to their destinations by air.

The service was launched in May this year. The main items being exported through this service at present are garments brought into Maldives from Bangladesh via sea.

MACL said that the services will continue to broaden as more airlines sign up. With the service, the airport's cargo services have seen significant development, they said.

The company further said that VIA having a stake in the global cargo connectivity logistics chain presents benefits to the Maldivian economy as well.