MPL, Ace Travels partner for sea-to-air cargo transshipment

Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) and Qatar Airways' General Service Agent, Ace Travels Maldives, have signed an agreement to provide sea-to-air transshipment cargo services.

This service facilitates the transport of cargo from one destination via a combination of sea and air routes.

The agreement was signed today at a ceremony held at MPL head office. MPL CEO Mohamed Wajeeh Ibrahim and Ace Travels Managing Director Mohamed Firaq signed on behalf of their organizations.

MPL CEO Wajeeh Ibrahim highlighted that the sea-to-air transshipment service, launched in May this year, has shown promising results within the first few months.

During this period, cargo has been successfully shipped to various parts of the world. He noted that while airlines have previously expressed interest in such a service, it had not been possible until now.

Wajeeh said that this service, already operational in countries like Sri Lanka, will enhance air connections between the Maldives and Europe.

Wajeeh, highlighting the government's commitment to expanding the Maldives' economic activities and increasing revenue, said that this service will contribute to increased dollar revenue.

The government is focused on expanding sea-to-air transshipment services, and the agreement with Ace Travels is part of this effort, Wajeeh added.

Ace Travels Managing Director Mohamed Firaq shared that the company has experience in providing this service and as Qatar Airways currently operates three daily flights to the Maldives, expects the service to be a successful initiative.

The first shipment under this service was sent in May, in collaboration with Turkish Airlines. The inaugural shipment was a consignment of garments from Bangladesh, brought to the Maldives by sea and then flown to Germany via Turkish Airlines.

MPL said that a total of 41 sea-to-air transshipment cargo shipments of garments have been exported from Bangladesh to various destinations through this service since its launch.