News DeskVelana International Airport, the Maldives’ main air hub serving for 40 years, has finally opened its brand new cargo terminal. This state-of-the-art facility doubles the airport’s cargo handling capacity, a much-needed boost to keep up with growing demand.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu officially inaugurated the new cargo terminal at the Velana International Airport this evening.
Double the Space, Triple the Speed:
The new terminal boasts a whopping 120,000-tonne annual capacity, twice that of the previous one. This translates to a faster flow of goods: cargo clearance per hour jumps from 12 flights to 36, a remarkable 3-fold increase!
Modernized Infrastructure:
The terminal is equipped with modern equipment, including:
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- 9 X-ray machines (up from 5) for efficient security checks.
- 7 electronic platforms (up from 2) for quicker loading and unloading.
- Dedicated export loading platforms and cargo lifters.
- Environmentally friendly electronic vehicles for sustainable operations.
Seamless Sea Cargo Integration:
A brand new cargo harbor with 4 cranes allows smooth transfer of goods between air and sea.
This expansion marks a significant milestone for the Maldives’ trade and economy. The new cargo terminal will:
- Facilitate faster movement of goods, benefiting businesses and consumers.
- Create new job opportunities in the logistics sector.
- Boost the Maldives’ position as a regional trade hub.
This cargo terminal has the capacity to service three times more cargo compared to the previous facility. Likewise, 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.
This new cargo terminal equips environmentally friendly vehicles with more updated amenities. A three-story office building with 55 office spaces for airlines and brokers is also located at the new cargo terminal.
