Avalon Airport, near Geelong in Victoria, has signed a deal that will make it a dedicated hub for Asian goods produced by online eCommerce marketplaces such as Temu and Shein.
Under the agreement, Teleport—a specialist logistics firm which is AirAsia’s cargo venture—will run a dedicated air freight operation at the airport.
The hub will accelerate the delivery of e-commerce packages from overseas while also providing cheaper freight options for perishable product exporters in Victoria and Tasmania. The aim is to have incoming freight off a plane and on the back of a truck, cleared out of the airport within 60 to 90 minutes.
Ari Suss, the airport’s chief executive, said the partnership demonstrated its growing role in international freight and logistics.
“This is a significant step forward for Avalon’s international cargo strategy and our ambition to become a leading freight and logistics gateway,” he said.
“Together, we are building a long-term logistics partnership that will strengthen international trade connections and create new opportunities for Victoria.”
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Logistics was highlighted as a major driver of eCommerce purchasing: 73 percent of shoppers said a good delivery experience made them more likely to shop online instead of in-store.
Teleport currently moves cargo into and out of primary Australian airports in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth from key Asian origin markets, including China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
Establishing Avalon as a strategic operations hub marks the next phase in Teleport’s global network expansion across Oceania, the Middle East, and Europe, in collaboration with its airline partners.
Pete Chareonwongsak, Teleport’s chief executive, said Avalon offered the right fit for the company’s growth plans.
“Cross-border e-commerce requires rapid, specialised processing, and our customers need faster, more reliable connectivity,” he said. “Avalon Airport is the right fit because it delivers curfew-free capacity processing, fast turnarounds and the flexibility to handle eCommerce alongside general cargo.
“Teleport brings strong e-commerce volume and regional network reach, whilst Avalon provides the dedicated infrastructure needed as a stronger freight gateway for Victoria. We believe secondary hubs are a proven engine for air cargo growth.”
The company will service Avalon using cargo capacity provided through 55 airline partners, including AirAsia and Jetstar, to transport cargo in the belly of passenger aircraft.
The deal is expected to create at least 50 jobs and “tens of millions” of dollars in value for exporters.
Avalon Airport opened a dedicated $8 million 24-hour freight processing facility in October 2025, and announced plans to increase freight volume by tenfold to 100,000 tonnes per year.
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However, the expansion highlights the growing footprint of low-cost platforms facing intense international scrutiny.
