Teleport targets e-commerce with Avalon Airport Melbourne tie-up

Teleport and Avalon Airport Melbourne have signed an agreement to establish a new operations hub at the Australian airport as the companies target growing e-commerce demand between the country and Southeast Asia.

The two companies said that the new hub will enable faster and more efficient movement of international e-commerce shipments into Australia to capitalise on growing demand.

In a press release, the two pointed out that Australians spent nearly $18.9bn on online e-commerce platforms last year, which was up 13% compared with 2024 levels.

Teleport chief executive Pete Chareonwongsak said that the airline had been attracted to the airport in part becuase there are no flight curfews in place.

“Establishing our latest strategic operations hub at Avalon Airport Melbourne is a deliberate move to strengthen the

Teleport Network in Oceania,” he said.

“Cross-border e-commerce requires rapid, specialised processing, and our customers need faster, more reliable connectivity.

“Avalon Airport is the right fit because it delivers curfew-free capacity processing, fast turnarounds and the flexibility to handle eCommerce alongside general cargo.”

He added: “Our proven history of scaling throughput across primary hubs like Kuala Lumpur, and secondary hubs like Don Mueang, and Phuket in Thailand and Bali in Indonesia, gives us full confidence in the massive potential this partnership will deliver for the region. We believe secondary hubs are a proven engine for air cargo growth.”

Teleport, which is the logistics arm of Air Asia and also operates three Airbus A321 freighters, currently moves cargo into primary Australian airports, namely Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth, from key Asian origin markets including China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia and Vietnam.

It expects to start operations into Avalon later this year, initially moving e-commerce volumes from China.

The partnership is the “next phase” of Teleport’s global network expansion across Oceania, the Middle

East, and Europe.

“The partnership leverages an alternative international freight gateway capable of supporting high-growth e-commerce logistics as international freight volumes expand,” the two said in a press release.

“It also has the potential to diversify Australia’s freight capacity, strengthen Victoria’s international trade links and support continued growth in the state’s logistics sector.”

Ari Suss, chief executive of Avalon Airport Melbourne, said the partnership demonstrated the airport’s growing role in international freight and logistics.

“Teleport has chosen Avalon because we can offer the capacity, speed and flexibility needed to support a fast-growing e-commerce network.

“Together, we are building a long-term logistics partnership that will strengthen international trade connections and create new opportunities for Victoria.”