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Bengaluru–Vancouver sister airport agreement focuses on cargo development, technology collaboration and the potential for future direct flights.
Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) have signed a sister airport agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation in air cargo, digital innovation and airport operations, while supporting efforts to improve air connectivity between southern India and western Canada.
The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration between Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which operates Bengaluru Airport, and Vancouver International Airport. The announcement was marked at Bengaluru Airport’s Terminal 2 in the presence of Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu.
The partnership covers seven areas of cooperation, including technology-driven operational improvements, innovation, cargo development and the exchange of expertise in sustainable airport operations and terminal performance management.
Cargo Cooperation at the Centre of the Partnership:
Improving cargo movement between Canada and southern India is a key objective of the agreement. Closer collaboration could help the airports explore opportunities to support freight demand from technology and other industries, while examining operational processes and customer requirements.
Both airports have established cargo operations. Bengaluru handled 520,985 tonnes of cargo in calendar year 2025, registering 5% growth year on year. Vancouver processed approximately 365,000 tonnes over the same period, up 7.4%.
Although these figures reflect total airport cargo volumes rather than traffic between the two cities, they demonstrate the scale of the logistics operations that underpin the partnership. The agreement provides a platform for further engagement on cargo-related opportunities. Its commercial impact will depend on specific initiatives, available airline capacity, handling arrangements and the development of viable transport connections.
Digital Technology and Operational Innovation:
Digital innovation is another major component of the partnership. The airports intend to explore opportunities for joint technology development and testing, drawing on operational experience and emerging digital solutions.
Vancouver's digital twin technology offers a potential reference point for this collaboration. Developed to support airport planning and operations, the platform combines historical data, sensor inputs and real-time information in two-dimensional and three-dimensional visualisations. Vancouver agreed with Unity in March 2023 to commercialise the platform for the wider aviation industry. Its applications include simulation, planning, training and operational analysis.
The Bengaluru–Vancouver agreement creates an opportunity to exchange knowledge in this area, although no specific digital twin deployment at Bengaluru Airport has been announced as part of the partnership.
Direct Air Connectivity Remains a Longer-Term Goal:
The airports have also identified direct air connectivity between Bengaluru and Vancouver as an objective. However, the sister airport agreement does not confirm a new flight service, and no airline, launch date or operating schedule has been announced. Introducing a direct route would require an airline to evaluate demand, aircraft availability, operating costs and commercial viability before committing to a service.
The regulatory framework already provides scope for future development. In November 2022, Canada and India expanded their bilateral air transport agreement, allowing designated airlines to operate unlimited flights between the two countries, replacing the previous limit of 35 weekly flights for each country.
Bengaluru was among the Indian cities accessible to Canadian carriers under the arrangement, while Vancouver was among the Canadian gateways available to Indian airlines. All-cargo flight rights were already unrestricted. These provisions provide regulatory flexibility but do not guarantee that a direct passenger or cargo service between Bengaluru and Vancouver will be launched.
A Framework for Practical Cooperation:
The agreement brings together two established international gateways with opportunities to exchange expertise in cargo operations, digital technology and sustainable airport management. For the logistics and aviation sectors, the next indicators of progress will be the announcement of concrete cargo initiatives, joint technology projects, operational trials and any future airline commitments.
While the agreement establishes a basis for closer cooperation, its long-term significance will depend on how the proposed collaboration develops into measurable operational improvements and commercially viable services.
Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates
Bengaluru–Vancouver sister airport agreement focuses on cargo development, technology collaboration and the potential for future direct flights. Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) have signed a sister airport agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation in air cargo, digital innovation and airport operations, while supporting efforts to improve air connectivity between southern India and western Canada. The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration between Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which operates Bengaluru Airport, and Vancouver International Airport. The announcement was marked at Bengaluru Airport’s Terminal 2 in the presence of Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu. The partnership covers seven areas of cooperation, including technology-driven operational improvements, innovation, cargo development and the exchange of expertise in sustainable airport operations and terminal performance management. Cargo Cooperation at the Centre of the Partnership: Improving cargo movement between Canada and southern India is a key objective of the agreement. Closer collaboration could help the airports explore opportunities to support freight demand from technology and other industries, while examining operational processes and customer requirements. Both airports have established cargo operations. Bengaluru handled 520,985 tonnes of cargo in calendar year 2025, registering 5% growth year on year. Vancouver processed approximately 365,000 tonnes over the same period, up 7.4%. Although these figures reflect total airport cargo volumes rather than traffic between the two cities, they demonstrate the scale of the logistics operations that underpin the partnership. The agreement provides a platform for further engagement on cargo-related opportunities. Its commercial impact will depend on specific initiatives, available airline capacity, handling arrangements and the development of viable transport connections. Digital Technology and Operational Innovation: Digital innovation is another major component of the partnership. The airports intend to explore opportunities for joint technology development and testing, drawing on operational experience and emerging digital solutions. Vancouver's digital twin technology offers a potential reference point for this collaboration. Developed to support airport planning and operations, the platform combines historical data, sensor inputs and real-time information in two-dimensional and three-dimensional visualisations. Vancouver agreed with Unity in March 2023 to commercialise the platform for the wider aviation industry. Its applications include simulation, planning, training and operational analysis. The Bengaluru–Vancouver agreement creates an opportunity to exchange knowledge in this area, although no specific digital twin deployment at Bengaluru Airport has been announced as part of the partnership. Direct Air Connectivity Remains a Longer-Term Goal: The airports have also identified direct air connectivity between Bengaluru and Vancouver as an objective. However, the sister airport agreement does not confirm a new flight service, and no airline, launch date or operating schedule has been announced. Introducing a direct route would require an airline to evaluate demand, aircraft availability, operating costs and commercial viability before committing to a service. The regulatory framework already provides scope for future development. In November 2022, Canada and India expanded their bilateral air transport agreement, allowing designated airlines to operate unlimited flights between the two countries, replacing the previous limit of 35 weekly flights for each country. Bengaluru was among the Indian cities accessible to Canadian carriers under the arrangement, while Vancouver was among the Canadian gateways available to Indian airlines. All-cargo flight rights were already unrestricted. These provisions provide regulatory flexibility but do not guarantee that a direct passenger or cargo service between Bengaluru and Vancouver will be launched. A Framework for Practical Cooperation: The agreement brings together two established international gateways with opportunities to exchange expertise in cargo operations, digital technology and sustainable airport management. For the logistics and aviation sectors, the next indicators of progress will be the announcement of concrete cargo initiatives, joint technology projects, operational trials and any future airline commitments. While the agreement establishes a basis for closer cooperation, its long-term significance will depend on how the proposed collaboration develops into measurable operational improvements and commercially viable services. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates
Asia Airfreight Terminal (AAT) has renewed its operating franchise with Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) for a further 15 years, securing its presence at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) from 2028 to 2043. The agreement reinforces the cargo terminal operator’s long-term commitment to Hong Kong’s air freight industry, with plans to expand handling capacity to 2 million tonnes. A subsidiary of SATS Ltd and an affiliate of Eastern Option Ltd., AAT has operated at HKIA since 1998. Its services include physical air cargo handling and documentation processing for airlines, supporting the movement of freight through one of the region’s key international aviation gateways. The franchise renewal comes as Hong Kong strengthens its aviation infrastructure and regional transport links. The full commissioning of HKIA’s Three-Runway System is expected to support the airport’s long-term development, while improved multimodal connectivity across the Greater Bay Area offers opportunities to enhance cargo movement and links between air freight and other transport networks. Mike Chew, Chief Executive Officer of AAT, said: “We are honoured to continue our long-standing partnership with Airport Authority Hong Kong. Building on nearly three decades of experience at HKIA, we will continue to invest in enhancing the infrastructure, technology, operational capabilities, including increasing our cargo handling capacity to 2 million tonnes, for long-term development of Hong Kong’s air cargo industry.” The planned capacity increase will be supported by continued investment in infrastructure, technology and operational capabilities, aimed at improving efficiency and meeting evolving requirements across the air cargo supply chain. AAT’s specialised facilities include AAT COOLPORT, which holds IATA CEIV Pharma and CEIV Fresh certifications, alongside World Health Organization Good Distribution Practices (GDP) accreditation for pharmaceutical products. These credentials support the handling of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals and fresh produce. AAT’s renewed franchise follows a similar extension secured by Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl), another major cargo terminal operator at HKIA, whose agreement also runs until 2043. Together, the extensions provide long-term operating continuity for the airport’s cargo handling sector as Hong Kong seeks to strengthen its position as an international air freight hub. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
Air France KLM Martinair Cargo has initiated a project to expand and automate its perishables centre at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), in partnership with Lödige Industries, to increase storage capacity, improve operational efficiency and strengthen its handling capabilities for temperature-sensitive shipments. The project reflects the growing importance of automated infrastructure in maintaining efficient and reliable cold-chain logistics. The dedicated cargo business of the Air France-KLM Group is implementing an elevating transfer vehicle (ETV) system to enable automated, multi-level storage and retrieval of unit load devices (ULDs) and pallets. The solution is designed to maximise the use of available building space while accommodating future growth in cargo volumes. By automating storage and retrieval operations, the system is expected to reduce manual handling, streamline internal cargo movements and improve the utilisation of existing storage capacity. It will also support consistent handling processes within dedicated temperature-controlled areas, which are critical for preserving the quality and integrity of perishable goods throughout their journey through the cargo facility. “Expanding our temperature-controlled cargo capabilities at Paris-Charles de Gaulle is an important step in strengthening our cold-chain operations. The new automated storage solution will enable us to handle growing volumes more efficiently and further enhance the cargo handling flow for temperature-sensitive shipments at CDG,” the project team at Air France KLM Martinair Cargo said. The installation will feature a 10-foot-wide edge ETV serving 58 storage decks, of which 17 will be located within temperature-controlled areas. This configuration will allow the facility to combine high-density storage with dedicated temperature-managed space, supporting the operational requirements of perishable cargo. Lödige Machine Warburg and Lödige Machine Romania are supplying the system, which is scheduled to become operational at the end of September 2027. The installation is expected to provide a scalable foundation for further automation as cargo volumes and cold-chain requirements evolve. Commenting on the project, Björn Ussat, Director Airport Logistic Solutions at Lödige Industries, said: “Cold-chain logistics place particularly high demands on reliability, efficient use of space and consistent handling processes. This project demonstrates how automation can help cargo operators optimise storage capacity and internal material flows while supporting the stringent handling requirements of temperature-sensitive shipments. We are delighted to support Air France KLM Martinair Cargo with an efficient and scalable solution that also provides a solid basis for future expansion of automated storage processes at Paris-Charles de Gaulle,” The investment will reinforce Paris-CDG's role in the group's cargo operations by improving how temperature-sensitive shipments are stored and transferred within the facility. Automated storage systems can help cargo operators manage space constraints, reduce unnecessary handling and establish more predictable internal workflows. For Air France KLM Martinair Cargo, the project forms part of the broader effort to strengthen specialised cargo-handling capabilities as supply chains increasingly demand reliable infrastructure for perishable goods. Efficient cold-chain operations are particularly important for shipments such as fresh produce, flowers and other temperature-sensitive commodities, where handling conditions and transit efficiency can influence product quality. As air cargo facilities face growing pressure to improve throughput without proportionate increases in their physical footprint, automation offers a way to enhance capacity and operational consistency. The Paris-CDG project combines these objectives with dedicated temperature-controlled storage, positioning the facility to accommodate future demand while maintaining the handling standards required for perishables. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
