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.
Source: https://www.cargoconnect.co.in/air-cargo/indias-air-cargo-hits-record-372-mmt-driven-by-infrastructure-push-soars-47-in-a-decade
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