India’s air cargo sector aims for growth by enhancing processes and turnaround times, supported by new logistics hubs.
The Indian air cargo sector is set for significant growth, with the government emphasizing the need to improve processes and ensure faster turnaround times. Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Advisor at the Ministry of Civil Aviation, highlighted this focus during a conference organized by the Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) in the national capital on Thursday.
To boost the sector, the government is developing logistics hubs. Srivastava noted that the future of air cargo in India is promising, with an expected increase in the number of freighters from the current fleet of around 18. He emphasized the importance of enhancing the ease of doing business and reducing turnaround times to support this growth.
While passenger traffic has rebounded after the COVID-19 pandemic, air cargo volumes have yet to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels. In the fiscal year 2023–24, India handled slightly over 3.36 million tonnes of air cargo.
Surendra Kumar Ahirwar, Joint Secretary at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), discussed ongoing developments in logistics, including workforce skilling. He pointed out the suboptimal utiliSation of existing air cargo facilities and stressed the need for developing hubs as part of the logistics infrastructure.
ACFI President Yashpal Sharma noted that the air cargo sector contributes nearly 10% of domestic carriers’ revenues. Market research reports predict that India’s air freight market will grow to USD 16.37 billion by 2027. The establishment of air transport shipment hubs at major airports is expected to drive this growth further.
These efforts underscore the potential of India’s air cargo sector to become a key player in global logistics, benefiting from improved efficiencies and expanded infrastructure.
Source: (PTI)
