New cargo terminal with triple the capacity opens at VIA

The newly developed cargo terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA) was inaugurated on Monday.

The new cargo terminal was inaugurated during a special ceremony held on Monday evening by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. The ceremony was also attended by Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef and senior officials of the government and Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), the operator of VIA.

While VIA has been providing cargo services for 40 years, the increase in demand has posed various difficulties for MACL.

The new cargo terminal developed to resolve this issue has the capacity to service three times more cargo compared to the previous facility. With the new cargo terminal's construction, the capacity of the previous terminal, which was 50,000 tonnes, will increase to a total of 120,000 tonnes of cargo service per year.

As per MACL, the new cargo terminal is equipped with more updated amenities. While there are six X-ray machines at the old facility, there are nine in the new one.

The new terminal also features a special harbor for cargo vessels traveling via sea, which would provide easements for the vessels in loading and unloading cargo.

Additionally, a cargo online agent portal has been introduced to expedite the services. MACL states cargo agents can track the cargo services provided by MACL.

A three-story office building with 55 office spaces for airlines and brokers is also located at the new cargo terminal, developed by China’s Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG).