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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.
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!
Air India Cargo has successfully completed the first international export shipment from Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), marking a significant milestone in India's evolving air cargo landscape. The inaugural shipment, comprising premium Ratnagiri Alphonso mangoes sourced from Maharashtra's Konkan region, was transported to Abu Dhabi aboard an Air India Express flight, highlighting the airport's growing role as a strategic cargo gateway for western India. The milestone comes shortly after Navi Mumbai International Airport commenced international passenger and cargo operations, reinforcing its position as a critical logistics hub designed to complement and decongest Mumbai's existing aviation infrastructure. Industry observers believe the development will significantly enhance export connectivity for perishable goods, pharmaceuticals, engineering products and other high-value cargo originating from Maharashtra and neighbouring states. The first export consignment reflects Air India Cargo's focus on strengthening India's agricultural exports by providing faster and more reliable access to international markets. Fresh Alphonso mangoes, renowned globally for their superior quality and flavour, require temperature-controlled handling and rapid transit to preserve freshness. The direct air cargo link to Abu Dhabi is expected to reduce transit time while improving product quality upon arrival. According to Air India, the shipment underscores the airline's commitment to supporting Indian exporters by leveraging its expanding cargo network and the operational capabilities of Air India Express. The initiative also aligns with the government's broader objective of improving multimodal logistics infrastructure and boosting agricultural exports through enhanced air freight connectivity. The commencement of international cargo operations at NMIA is expected to create new opportunities for exporters across sectors. Besides perishables, the airport is well-positioned to handle pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, automotive components and express cargo, benefiting from its proximity to industrial clusters and major manufacturing centres in western India. Logistics experts believe Navi Mumbai's modern cargo infrastructure, combined with dedicated handling facilities and improved road connectivity, will ease congestion at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport while offering exporters additional capacity and operational flexibility. The airport is also expected to play an increasingly important role as freighter operations gradually shift to Navi Mumbai in the coming months. As India's air cargo market continues to expand, the successful launch of international export operations from Navi Mumbai represents more than just an inaugural shipment. It signals the emergence of a new logistics gateway capable of supporting India's export ambitions, strengthening supply chains and improving global market access for Indian businesses. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
