MACL showcases Velana Airport's cargo growth at Air Cargo China 2026

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) presented Velana International Airport's cargo growth and its potential as an Indian Ocean transshipment hub at Air Cargo China 2026, held in Shanghai on July 20, the company said.

MACL used the event to meet airlines, freight forwarders, and logistics operators from across the global air cargo industry. According to MACL, discussions focused on strengthening ties with Asian markets, attracting more freighter flights, and expanding connectivity to Europe, North America, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

MACL said Velana International Airport's location, growing airline network, and multimodal cargo services have helped it develop as a gateway for cargo moving between regional and international markets.

The airport handled 36,367 tonnes of cargo in the first half of 2026, MACL said, a 5 percent increase over the same period last year. Transshipment cargo reached 7,982 tonnes, up 15 percent year on year.

Freighter operations grew sharply. MACL said 358 freighter flights carried 2,925 tonnes of cargo in the same period, a 174 percent increase compared to the first half of 2025.

On July 12, the airport handled 140 tonnes of outbound transshipment cargo in a single day, which MACL said was the highest daily volume recorded at the airport.

China was the second largest source of inbound transshipment cargo in the first half of the year, after Sri Lanka, according to MACL. The United States remained the top outbound transshipment destination, receiving about 1,618 tonnes of cargo routed through the Maldives.

MACL also pointed to its Sea-to-Air transshipment service, launched in 2024, which has carried more than 5,000 tonnes of cargo with 17 airline partners. The service connects cargo from regional ports including Colombo, Mumbai, Dhaka, and Tuticorin to destinations in Europe and North America through Velana International Airport.

Looking ahead, MACL said it expects more airline capacity and additional European routes during the winter 2026/27 season. The company said these developments should further strengthen the airport's role as a regional transshipment gateway.