The Maldives transported a total of 329 tonnes of cargo through its sea-to-air logistics service in December last year, with consignments reaching 20 countries, highlighting the rapid growth of the country’s emerging transshipment sector.
Sea-to-air cargo is a logistics model that enables goods arriving by sea to be transferred onward to global destinations by air, combining the cost efficiency of maritime transport with the speed of air freight. The service was launched in the Maldives on 15 May 2024 and has since gained traction as an alternative route in international trade.
In the Maldives, the operation is jointly managed by Maldives Airports Company Limited and Maldives Ports Limited, linking port facilities with air cargo infrastructure. At present, the service is connected to more than 17 international airlines.
Statistics released by Maldives Ports Limited show that in December alone, cargo was shipped to 20 countries using 10 different airlines. The total volume handled during the month amounted to 329 tonnes, equivalent to 66 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), based on standard container measurements.
Airlines involved in transporting cargo through the sea-to-air service during December included Virgin Atlantic, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Azerbaijan Airlines, Saudi Airlines, Swiss Airlines, ITA Airways and Emirates.
Officials said the service continues to expand steadily and has already generated millions of dollars for the national economy. With the Maldives served by an extensive network of international airlines, authorities believe there is strong potential to scale up sea-to-air operations further and increase cargo volumes in the coming months.
