Raya Airways has launched scheduled cargo flights between Velana International Airport and Penang International Airport in Malaysia, with two flights planned each week.

The flights are operated using Boeing 767-200 freighter aircraft chartered by Southeast Asian logistics company Teleport. Each flight is expected to carry an average of 46 tonnes of cargo.

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) said the service establishes a direct cargo link between Malé and Penang and marks the start of scheduled cargo flights from Malaysia to the Maldives.

MACL said 80 to 90 per cent of the cargo carried on these flights is expected to be transshipment cargo, strengthening Velana International Airport’s role as a regional cargo hub.

Raya Airways is the second airline to operate scheduled cargo flights to Velana International Airport. From January to the end of July this year, the airport handled 390 cargo flights carrying 3,228 tonnes of cargo.