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India’s air cargo sector has achieved a major milestone, handling a record 3.72 million metric tonnes (MMT) in FY2024-25, underlining the country’s growing prominence in global trade and logistics. The achievement marks a 47 percent rise compared to 2.53 MMT recorded a decade ago in FY2014-15, reflecting sustained investments in aviation infrastructure, policy reforms, and regional connectivity initiatives.
The sharp rise in cargo volumes comes at a time when India is positioning itself as a strategic logistics hub for Asia-Pacific trade flows. Industry observers note that the growth has been supported by expanding e-commerce demand, rising pharmaceutical exports, perishables movement, and increasing integration of Indian manufacturers into global supply chains.
Cargo operations are now active across 74 airports nationwide, significantly broadening the country’s air freight network. The government, along with the Airports Authority of India, has accelerated investments in warehousing capacity, cargo terminal modernisation, and multimodal logistics integration to support the sector’s expansion.
Major infrastructure projects are expected to further strengthen capacity over the next few years. Upcoming greenfield airports at Noida International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport are developing large-scale cargo handling facilities aimed at reducing congestion at existing metro airports and improving regional cargo distribution. At the same time, AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company (AAICLAS) is modernising terminals at strategic locations including Srinagar, Dehradun, Dibrugarh, Dimapur, Vijayawada, and Jodhpur.
Policy support has also emerged as a key growth enabler. One of the long-standing challenges for Tier-II and Tier-III airports has been the cost burden associated with customs operations. To address this issue, the government has introduced a reimbursement mechanism for customs deployment expenses at 27 airports, including 15 dedicated cargo terminals, during the 2024-27 period. The initiative is expected to improve the financial viability of smaller cargo gateways and promote decentralised trade growth across regional India.
The momentum appears set to continue. Official figures indicate that India had already handled 2.98 MMT of air cargo by December of the current fiscal year, placing the sector on course for another record performance.
Globally, air cargo demand also remains resilient. According to the International Air Transport Association, worldwide air cargo volumes touched record levels in 2025, supported by strong international trade activity and growing cross-border e-commerce.
For India, the latest milestone signals more than just rising freight volumes. It reflects the country’s broader ambition to become a globally competitive logistics and manufacturing hub backed by modern infrastructure, policy-driven reforms, and stronger regional connectivity.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 https://cargoconnect.co.in/ 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
Hong Kong Air Cargo has commenced dedicated freighter operations between Hong Kong and Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), becoming the first international carrier to launch freighter services from Mumbai’s new airport. The new service began on 16 August 2026 and will operate three times a week using an Airbus A330-200F. The aircraft can carry approximately 60 tonnes of import and export cargo, resulting in six weekly cargo movements between Hong Kong and Navi Mumbai. The launch marks a significant milestone for Hong Kong Air Cargo, Aeroprime Group and NMIA, while strengthening India’s international air cargo connectivity. The service is also part of NMIA’s broader international cargo expansion programme, under which 13 new freighter services are expected to be introduced. Aeroprime Group, Hong Kong Air Cargo’s Cargo GSSA in Mumbai, played a key role in coordinating the commercial, operational and regulatory requirements for the launch. The company worked closely with Hong Kong Air Cargo, NMIA and various regulatory stakeholders to facilitate the commencement of operations. Abhishek Goyal, Executive Director, Aeroprime Group, described the launch as a landmark achievement, highlighting the extensive planning, coordination and regulatory engagement required to establish the first international freighter operation from NMIA. Raymond Chen, Vice President, Commercial, Hong Kong Air Cargo, said the new service represents an important milestone in the airline’s India growth strategy. He also highlighted the collaboration between the airline, Aeroprime Group, airport authorities and regulatory teams. The new operation is expected to leverage Navi Mumbai’s strategic location to provide customers with enhanced cargo connectivity to Hong Kong and international markets. It further strengthens NMIA’s position as an emerging international air cargo gateway while expanding Hong Kong Air Cargo’s footprint in India’s growing aviation and logistics sector. NMIA began its dedicated freighter operations earlier this month, with IndiGo Cargo launching a service to Sharjah on 1 August. The flight carried 20 tonnes of cargo and marked the airport’s first dedicated freighter service. For Aeroprime Group, the latest launch underscores its role in supporting airlines with market entry, regulatory facilitation, commercial planning, operational execution and network expansion. The development comes as India’s air cargo sector continues to strengthen its role in global trade and logistics. At the 7th Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) World Conclave 2026, ACFI signed two MoUs, a Letter of Intent and a strategic partnership aimed at further supporting the country’s air cargo ecosystem. The latest freighter launch is expected to contribute to the continued growth of Navi Mumbai as an important cargo gateway and enhance trade links between India, Hong Kong and wider global markets. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates
Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Air has commenced daily flights between Riyadh and Mumbai, marking its entry into the Indian market while adding new air cargo capacity to one of the region's busiest trade corridors. The new Boeing 787-9 service is designed to support both passenger travel and belly-hold freight, strengthening commercial links between India and Saudi Arabia. The Mumbai route forms part of Riyadh Air's international network expansion as the airline continues to build connectivity across South Asia. The carrier is also scheduled to introduce additional services to Dhaka, Islamabad and Lahore during August, further extending its regional footprint. For the air cargo sector, the new service increases available capacity for shipments moving between the two countries. The daily widebody operation is expected to benefit industries that rely on time-sensitive logistics, including pharmaceuticals, perishables, engineering products, e-commerce and high-value manufacturing goods. India and Saudi Arabia have witnessed steady growth in bilateral trade in recent years, driving demand for additional passenger and cargo connectivity. Mumbai, one of India's largest commercial and logistics hubs, is expected to serve as a key gateway for freight moving between South Asia, the Middle East and onward international markets. The launch also aligns with Saudi Arabia's broader aviation strategy to position Riyadh as a global air transport hub by expanding international connectivity and increasing cargo handling capacity. For Indian exporters and freight forwarders, the additional daily service provides greater scheduling flexibility and network options for shipments destined for Saudi Arabia and other markets accessible through Riyadh. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
Saudia Cargo and Riyadh Cargo announced the signing of an interline agreement that will strengthen cargo connectivity, expand network reach, and provide customers with greater access to international markets via Saudi Arabia. The agreement brings together the complementary strengths of both carriers, combining Saudia Cargo’s established cargo presence and expertise with Riyadh Cargo’s expanding global network and digitally native operating model. The arrangement will also support the continued expansion of Riyadh Cargo’s network beyond current direct services to London, Dubai, Cairo, Jeddah, Madrid, and Malaga, while strengthening connectivity to upcoming destinations including Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, and Dhaka. This collaboration supports Riyadh Cargo long-term ambition to serve more than 100 global destinations by 2030. Eng. Mansour Alasmi, VP - Network & Revenue, Saudia Cargo, praised this collaboration stating: “By combining Saudia Cargo's established expertise and global capabilities with Riyadh Cargo's future ambitions, we will provide our customers with more integrated solutions to facilitate trade. This aligns with our joint efforts to transform the Kingdom into a premier global logistics hub, while driving sustainable growth for both organizations. Pravin Singh, VP - Cargo, Riyadh Air, said, “As Riyadh Air builds a global airline from the heart of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Cargo has a clear ambition to become a modern, digitally enabled, and reliable cargo business serving customers across key international markets. This agreement supports that ambition by extending our reach, opening new trade opportunities, and helping position Riyadh as an important gateway in the future of global logistics.” Hence, by expanding available cargo capacity and improving the flow of goods across international markets, the agreement will give freight forwarders and logistics partners more efficient and reliable cargo solutions, while extending both carriers’ network reach beyond their own operations. The partnership also supports Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a leading global logistics hub, in line with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030 by strengthening the Kingdom’s global connectivity and reinforcing Riyadh and Jeddah as complementary gateways for trade. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
