A strategic Indian Ocean gateway for international general cargo
We specialize in coordinating general cargo transshipment through Velana International Airport (MLE). Our team works with international freight forwarders, NVOCCs, airlines and logistics partners to coordinate cargo movement from arrival through MLE to onward departure.
Air-to-Air & Sea-to-Air general cargo
transshipment through MLE
We specialize in coordinating general cargo transshipment through Velana International Airport (MLE), connecting major Asian origins with international destinations through the Maldives. Our focus is reliable, carefully coordinated transit for international freight forwarders, NVOCCs, airlines, GSAs, consolidators and logistics companies.
Our focus
- Air-to-Air Transshipment
- Sea-to-Air Transshipment
- General Cargo
- Transit Cargo
- Cargo Connection Coordination
- Airline Coordination
- Ground Handling Coordination
- Transit Documentation
- ULD Coordination
- Cargo Status Monitoring
- Onward Flight Coordination
New transshipment opportunities through the Maldives
Velana International Airport is strategically positioned between major cargo markets in South Asia, South-East Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The growing number of international services operating to MLE, including wide-body aircraft with belly-hold capacity, gives freight forwarders additional routing options for time-sensitive and general cargo.
A position, not a detour
Velana International Airport sits in the Indian Ocean between the cargo markets of South Asia, South-East Asia, the Middle East and Europe. For some lanes that geography makes MLE a shorter, less congested place to change aircraft than the traditional gateway hubs.
Wide-body belly capacity
The international services operating into MLE include a substantial number of wide-body passenger aircraft. That belly capacity is what makes general cargo transshipment possible here at all, and it is why the aircraft type on a rotation matters more than the airline name.
An additional routing option
We do not present MLE as a replacement for the hubs you already use. It is one more option to price and plan against when capacity is tight, when a gateway is congested, or when a lane needs a different shape.
From Asia to global markets via MLE
Avia Cargo Services is developing MLE as a dedicated air-to-air and sea-to-air transshipment gateway, connecting cargo originating in China, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Cambodia with onward destinations across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, North America and South America.
October 2026 schedule
More direct European services into MLE
Additional direct European services in the current schedule further expand the airport’s connectivity with the European market, and create more opportunity for cargo moving between Asia and Europe. We will publish the lanes as the capacity proves itself across a full season rather than on the day a route is announced.
Air → MLE → Air
Air-to-Air general cargo transshipment
We coordinate general cargo arriving at MLE by air for onward connection to another international destination.
- Asian originChina / Bangladesh / Sri Lanka / Vietnam / Cambodia / India
- MLE — Velana International AirportTransit handling & cargo coordination
- Global destinationEurope / USA / Middle East / global destinations
Sea → MLE → Air
Sea-to-Air general cargo transshipment
Cargo can arrive by sea at Malé and subsequently connect to onward international air services through MLE, subject to routing, capacity, airline and applicable operational requirements.
- Asian originChina / Vietnam / Cambodia / India / Bangladesh / Sri Lanka
- Port of MaléSea arrival
- Cargo transfer & coordinationPort to airport transfer
- MLE — Velana International AirportAcceptance & onward connection
- Global destinationEurope / USA / Middle East
Our coordination includes
- Pre-arrival planning
- Flight coordination
- Cargo information verification
- Airline coordination
- Transit cargo handling
- Documentation coordination
- Cargo status monitoring
- ULD coordination
- Security / acceptance coordination
- Onward flight coordination
- Connection monitoring
- Departure confirmation
- Exception management
Asia → MLE → Global
MLE is a cargo transit gateway, not just a destination. General cargo from six Asian origin markets arrives at Velana International Airport by air or by sea, is coordinated through transit handling, and departs on an onward international service.
Major origin markets
- China
- Bangladesh
- Sri Lanka
- Vietnam
- Cambodia
- India
Arriving into MLE by air, or by sea into the Port of Malé for onward air connection.
MLE
Velana International Airport
Transit handling, documentation, security, acceptance and onward connection, run from one control desk.
How transit worksGlobal destinations
- USA
- Europe
- Middle East
- Other international destinations
Onward international air services, subject to routing, capacity, airline and applicable operational requirements.
· Destination
,
Hover or tap a gateway to see how it connects through MLE.
Connecting Asia through MLE
Our primary focus markets and the cargo gateways we work from. Specific airport connectivity is confirmed per shipment, on the routing and capacity available at the time.
China
Major cargo gateways including
- Shanghai
- Guangzhou
- Shenzhen
- Xiamen
- Beijing
- Chengdu
- Zhengzhou
- Hong Kong
Bangladesh
Dhaka and other applicable cargo gateways
- Dhaka
Sri Lanka
Colombo and other applicable cargo gateways
- Colombo
Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and other applicable cargo gateways
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Hanoi
Cambodia
Phnom Penh and other applicable cargo gateways
- Phnom Penh
India
Major cargo gateways including
- Mumbai
- Delhi
- Chennai
- Bengaluru
- Hyderabad
- Ahmedabad
- Kolkata
Specific airport connectivity is displayed only where operationally confirmed.
Our core cargo scope
General cargo transshipment
What we move through MLE
Our MLE transshipment operations focus on general cargo. If your commodity is not listed here, send the details and we will confirm whether it is acceptable on the routing you need.
- Electronics
- Machinery and spare parts
- Garments and textiles
- Consumer goods
- Furniture
- Industrial components
- Engineering equipment
- Construction-related materials
- E-commerce general cargo
- Commercial goods
- Packaged manufactured goods
- Other acceptable general cargo
Our 9-step process
The same nine steps run on an air-to-air connection and on a sea-to-air movement. You always know which step your cargo is on and who is holding it.
- 01
Pre-arrival planning
Cargo details, routing, dimensions, weight, commodity and documentation are reviewed before arrival.
- 02
Space & connection confirmation
Available onward capacity and connection options are reviewed.
- 03
Arrival coordination
Inbound flight or vessel information and cargo status are monitored.
- 04
Transit cargo handling
Cargo is coordinated through the applicable transit handling process.
- 05
Documentation
Transit and airline documentation requirements are checked.
- 06
Security & acceptance
Cargo security, acceptance and handling requirements are verified.
- 07
Cargo preparation
Cargo is prepared for onward transportation according to the connecting airline requirements.
- 08
Onward connection
Cargo is coordinated for delivery to the appropriate airline and flight.
- 09
Departure confirmation
Departure status and relevant cargo updates are communicated to the customer or forwarder.
One point of coordination from arrival to onward departure
Our MLE Cargo Control Desk provides centralized coordination for international general cargo moving through Velana International Airport.
One cargo. One connection. One point of control.
We coordinate
What a connection through MLE looks like
Indicative routings for general cargo. Actual routing, transit time and carrier are confirmed against live capacity when we quote.
China → MLE → USA
- ChinaOrigin market
- MLEVelana International Airport
- USADestination
Vietnam → MLE → Europe
- VietnamOrigin market
- MLEVelana International Airport
- EuropeDestination
India → MLE → USA
- IndiaOrigin market
- MLEVelana International Airport
- USADestination
Bangladesh → MLE → Europe
- BangladeshOrigin market
- MLEVelana International Airport
- EuropeDestination
Cambodia → MLE → Europe
- CambodiaOrigin market
- MLEVelana International Airport
- EuropeDestination
Sri Lanka → MLE → USA / Europe
- Sri LankaOrigin market
- MLEVelana International Airport
- USA / EuropeDestination
Asia → Sea → MLE → Air → Global
Origins
China / Vietnam / Cambodia / India / Bangladesh / Sri Lanka
Destination
Europe / USA / Middle East / global destinations
Built for global logistics partners
Our MLE transshipment solutions are designed for the trade, not for the retail shipper. We work to the documentation, reporting and hand-over standards our partners already run on.
International Freight Forwarders
Neutral transit handling at MLE for forwarders who need a dependable connection point between Asia and the West.
Chinese NVOCCs
Sea-to-air and air-to-air options out of the main South and East China gateways.
Bangladesh Freight Forwarders
Dhaka-origin general cargo connected onward to Europe and the USA through MLE.
Sri Lankan Freight Forwarders
Short-hop Colombo connections into MLE for onward international uplift.
Vietnamese Freight Forwarders
Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi cargo routed through MLE to European destinations.
Cambodian Freight Forwarders
Phnom Penh general cargo with onward connections coordinated at MLE.
Indian Freight Forwarders
Cargo from the major Indian gateways connected onward via the Indian Ocean gateway.
Airline GSAs
Transit handling and connection management supporting your carrier MLE cargo programme.
Cargo Consolidators
Consolidated general cargo built, transferred and re-connected under one point of control.
Air Freight Forwarders
Air-to-air transit with pre-arrival planning and onward flight coordination.
Sea Freight Forwarders
Sea arrival at Malé converted to onward air uplift where transit time matters.
E-commerce Logistics Providers
General e-commerce cargo moving from Asian fulfilment hubs to Western markets.
Project Cargo Specialists
Coordinated handling for oversized and specialised general cargo in transit.
3PL / 4PL Providers
A single MLE coordination partner sitting inside your control tower.
Overseas Logistics Agents
A local counterpart at MLE who reports back the way your customer expects.
Cargo Charter Brokers
Ground coordination for charter movements connecting through Velana International Airport.
The carrier network we connect your cargo onto
51 airlines serve Velana International Airport, 31 of them with wide-body equipment that can take containerised cargo. That network is the reason MLE works as a transit point at all, and it is the first thing we check when a routing comes in.
Middle East & Gulf
10 carriers- G9Air Arabia
- EKEmirates
- EYEtihad Airways
- FZflydubai
- XYflynas
- GFGulf Air
- KUKuwait Airways
- WYOman Air
- QRQatar Airways
- SVSaudia
Europe & Central Asia
20 carriers- SUAeroflot
- KCAir Astana
- AFAir France
- OSAustrian Airlines
- J2Azerbaijan Airlines
- ZFAzur Air
- BABritish Airways
- C6Centrum Air
- DECondor
- WKEdelweiss Air
- E4Enter Air
- EWEurowings Discover
- H4HiSky
- AZITA Airways
- LOLOT Polish Airlines
- NONeos
- N4Nordwind Airlines
- TKTurkish Airlines
- HYUzbekistan Airways
- VSVirgin Atlantic
Greater China
8 carriers- JDBeijing Capital Airlines
- MUChina Eastern Airlines
- CZChina Southern Airlines
- OQChongqing Airlines
- HBGreater Bay Airlines
- HXHong Kong Airlines
- 3USichuan Airlines
- MFXiamen Air
Asia & Indian Ocean
13 carriers- AIAir India
- HMAir Seychelles
- PGBangkok Airways
- ODBatik Air Malaysia
- B4BeOnd
- 8DFitsAir
- 6EIndiGo
- MHMalaysia Airlines
- Q2Maldivian
- SQSingapore Airlines
- ULSriLankan Airlines
- FDThai AirAsia
- BSUS-Bangla Airlines
Carrier list from the MACL airline directory for Velana International Airport. Listing an airline here describes the services available at MLE that we coordinate cargo onto. It does not imply a commercial agency or partnership agreement with that carrier.
Have transit cargo routing through MLE?
Send the routing, commodity, pieces, weight and dimensions. We confirm the connection, the coordination plan and the rate.