Maldives Ports Limited's (MPL) sea-to-air cargo services have connected with Emirates.
Sea-to-air cargo services were introduced by MPL in collaboration with Maldives State Shipping (MSS) and global airlines, involves importing goods from other countries and re-exporting them to various destinations. Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways have also joined to provide these services.
According to Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Emirates has sent 12 Unit Load Device (ULD) goods from Milan, Italy. Emirates will provide flights between the Maldives and Dubai, connecting the Maldives with several European countries.
MPL introduced sea-to-air cargo services in March, with the first shipment sent in May. The first shipment was a garment shipment from Bangladesh. The shipment was sent to Germany via Turkish Airlines.
Sea-to-air transshipment services were introduced, aiming to shorten the duration involved in shipping merchandise by sea and provide prompt assistance. This Hybrid Model aims to meet demands within the commercial industry efficiently. The key benefits Maldives will receive from this service is the increased number of flights to various countries, especially European destinations, resulting from this service, typically offered by foreign countries to expedite the export process.