News DeskIn a significant leap towards advancing air cargo transportation capabilities in the country, the Regional Airports Limited (RACL) has partnered with Maldives National University (MNU) to undertake an extensive study on the feasibility of introducing air cargo services nationwide. The agreement, inked at a ceremony hosted by MNU, saw RACL Managing Director Ahmed Mubeen and MNU representative Aishath Shehnaz Adam formalize the collaborative effort.
Designed to span three regions, the nationwide study is projected to conclude within four months, aiming to unravel crucial aspects of air cargo services. These encompass assessing the demand for expedited delivery of goods from both the public and businesses, identifying operational challenges, exploring solutions, and evaluating the existing facilities for air cargo services at regional airports.
Mr. Ahmed Mubeen, the Managing Director of RACL, shared insights into the motivation behind this endeavor during an interview with truthMV. He highlighted the current reliance on sea transportation and escalating rates, emphasizing the urgency of introducing air cargo services to meet the surging demands, particularly within the hospitality sector.
“Now we are sending Cargo by sea, and at present, the rates are high, and there is no capacity for air cargo,” Mr. Mubeen stated in the interview. “We have five-star and seven-star resorts. If we can cater to this segment and take it a notch further to enhance the Maldives experience. These are the services available in developed countries.”
He underscored the active consideration of drone cargo services and the exploration of market demand for direct shipments of local variety of fruits from islands like Fuvah Mulah or Thoddoo to customers in the north.
“Why not look for air cargo. Look at it this way: now we have eight airports, and there is a possibility that there will be a total of 15 to 20 airports. I see that we are a company that has a future for this expansion,” expressed Mr. Mubeen. “If the research shows that air cargo is viable, we may start air cargo services using aircrafts too.”
The collaboration with MNU marks the first phase of this ambitious project, with the second phase aiming to provide agricultural products across the country. MNU, renowned for its expert team, will deploy six researchers for extensive fieldwork, gathering information from various islands. Their findings are anticipated to be a pivotal factor in shaping the future of air cargo services in the Maldives, fostering growth and innovation in the transportation sector.
