Saturday
15th Aug 2026
Dhivehi Edition
Raya Airways, Photo: MACL
Raya Airways has officially commenced scheduled cargo flights to Velana International Airport (VIA), establishing a direct cargo connection between Penang, Malaysia, and the Maldives.
The flights are scheduled to operate twice a week between Penang and Malé, using Boeing 767-200 freighter aircraft capable of carrying an average of 46 tonnes of cargo per flight.
The new service marks Raya Airways’ first scheduled cargo operation from Malaysia to the Maldives. The flights are chartered by Teleport, a logistics company operating across Southeast Asia.
The service is expected to create additional opportunities for regulated cargo transportation between Southeast Asia and the Maldives, while strengthening Velana International Airport’s role as a cargo connectivity hub.
Around 80 to 90 percent of the cargo carried on the new flights is expected to be transshipment cargo. This is expected to expand VIA’s role in connecting cargo between different markets and provide shippers with additional routes to major destinations.
Raya Airways is the second scheduled cargo airline to operate flights to VIA. The addition of the new carrier forms part of efforts to strengthen cargo connectivity and develop Velana International Airport as a transshipment gateway.
According to the information provided, VIA handled 390 cargo movements and a total of 3,228 tonnes of cargo between January and July 2026. During this period, the airport was connected by cargo operations to major destinations including Bengaluru, Chennai, Yangon, Colombo, Bangkok, Dubai and Hanoi.
In 2025, VIA handled more than 4,300 tonnes of cargo through 518 cargo movements.
Raya Airways describes itself as a Malaysian air cargo carrier operating scheduled and charter cargo services across Asia. Its current network includes Penang and several major regional cargo hubs, while its fleet includes Boeing 767 and Airbus A321 freighters.