- Velana International Airport handled its first Sea-to-Air transshipment from Cambodia, routing cargo onward to Lille, France.
- The route adds Cambodia to the airport's existing Sea-to-Air network covering Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.
- Sea-to-Air combines cheaper sea transport with faster air freight, positioning the Maldives as an Asia-Europe transfer hub.
Velana International Airport has handled its first Sea-to-Air transshipment shipment from Cambodia, extending its cargo network into Southeast Asia and creating a new connection between the region and Europe.
The cargo was transported by sea from Cambodia to the Maldives before being transferred through Velana International Airport for onward air transport to Lille, France.
The operation adds Cambodia to the airport’s existing Sea-to-Air transshipment network, which primarily handles cargo originating in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. It also reflects efforts to position the airport as a transfer point for freight moving between Asian suppliers and European destinations.
Sea-to-Air services combine lower-cost sea transport for the first stage of a journey with air freight for the onward leg. The model can reduce delivery times compared with sea freight alone while remaining less costly than transporting cargo entirely by air.
For the Maldives, the new route expands the airport’s cargo activity beyond its domestic and tourism-related operations, while supporting its role in regional logistics and trade connectivity.
