Air Cargo Volumes Surge 40% as India Builds Global Hubs

India’s air cargo sector has demonstrated robust growth in recent years, with cargo volumes expanding by nearly 40%. Speaking in New Delhi, Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu reaffirmed the government's commitment to building world-class air freight hubs nationwide, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to strengthen the country’s logistics grid. A major milestone in this effort includes the strategic partnership between FedEx and GMR Airport to construct a dedicated air cargo facility at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, aimed at augmenting national supply chain infrastructure and air freight throughput. Parallel to infrastructure expansion, aviation safety remains a critical focus. Addressing the August 4 Air India Phuket–Delhi flight incident—where a Delhi-bound aircraft experienced a sudden 300-foot altitude drop during cruise—Minister Naidu confirmed that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is conducting a thorough inquiry, with a preliminary findings report expected shortly. Overall, the government’s dual focus on scaling air cargo hubs and enforcing stringent safety protocols is set to bolster operational efficiency across India’s aviation ecosystem.