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Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has expanded its transshipment cargo network to four additional domestic origin stations and two international destinations, strengthening its role as a potential air cargo hub between eastern and western markets.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on August 19 flagged off the scaled-up phase of India’s transshipment cargo reform at Delhi International Airport Limited’s (DIAL) Transshipment Excellence Centre (TEC) at Terminal 2. The expanded network will now connect Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Hyderabad with London and Copenhagen, following the successful completion of a proof-of-concept project on the Chennai-Delhi-Frankfurt route.
The proof of concept for domestic-to-international transshipment began on June 20, 2026, with Air India operating the service end-to-end. Since its launch, around 280 metric tonnes of cargo have been transshipped through the Delhi facility, while aircraft capacity utilisation increased from 75 per cent to nearly 100 per cent.
According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, the expansion is expected to increase Air India’s monthly cargo carriage on the covered routes from 1,763 metric tonnes to 3,183 metric tonnes, representing an increase of nearly 80 per cent. Speaking at the Transshipment Excellence Centre at Terminal 2 of IGI Airport, Naidu said the reform was aimed at reducing turnaround time, handling costs and congestion at cargo terminals.
The proof-of-concept exercise demonstrated a significant reduction in average end-to-end transit time on the Chennai-Delhi-Frankfurt route, from around 60 hours to 20 hours. The government was working to expand the model further and eventually establish India as a global air cargo transshipment hub by leveraging the country’s geographical position between eastern and western markets, he said
“While our immediate focus is on Domestic-to-International transshipment, our larger ambition is to position India as a global cargo transshipment hub,” Naidu said, adding that the framework would subsequently be expanded to International-to-International and International-to-Domestic transshipment.
The reform follows a revised framework notified through Addendum-II to AVSEC Circular No. 6/2024 by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) on July 21, 2025. Under the framework, secured transshipment cargo can be moved through dedicated Transfer Cargo Security Hold Areas (TCSHAs) without mandatory re-screening, subject to prescribed security safeguards.
Naidu said the removal of mandatory re-screening had addressed a long-standing industry concern and was helping improve the efficiency and competitiveness of India’s air cargo ecosystem. He also said the initiative was part of the government’s broader effort to develop major Indian airports as global transit hubs.
Following the strengthening of hub-and-spoke operations for passengers, similar measures are being undertaken to build India’s air cargo hub capabilities. The Minister congratulated Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), BCAS, CISF, airlines, Customs and other stakeholders for their coordination in implementing the reform.
The ministry said additional domestic origin stations and international destinations are expected to be brought under the framework in the coming months, further expanding India’s air cargo connectivity and strengthening its position as a competitive global aviation hub.
The event was attended by Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha, Airports Authority of India Chairman Vipin Kumar, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation Asangba Chuba Ao, BCAS Joint Director General Pratibha Ambedkar and senior officials from the ministry, AAI, BCAS, DIAL, Air India and other stakeholders.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
Cathay Cargo is set to increase freighter capacity to the Americas from September 2026 as it prepares for the upcoming air cargo peak season and responds to sustained demand for technology-related shipments across its transpacific network. The additional capacity is aimed at balancing growing cargo volumes with available lift while supporting further demand through the peak period. According to Cathay Cargo, cargo demand remained positive through the summer, driven particularly by shipments of semiconductors and data-centre equipment from Asia to transpacific markets. The carrier also reported rising volumes of lithium batteries moving from Northeast Asia and the Greater Bay Area through its Hong Kong hub. Cargo carried across its network grew by 6% year on year in July, highlighting the continued strength of demand ahead of the traditional peak season. Alongside the additional transpacific capacity, Cathay Cargo is preparing to introduce a leased Airbus A330 freighter in the fourth quarter. The aircraft is being converted from a passenger aircraft in Shanghai and will be operated on Cathay Cargo’s behalf by Air Hong Kong, its wholly owned Cathay Group subsidiary. The aircraft is expected to provide additional capacity to address growing regional demand for general cargo. Cathay Cargo is also placing emphasis on handling specialised shipments safely and efficiently. The carrier said it is working with shippers and freight forwarders to align operational checklists with the requirements of growing volumes of AI chips, server racks and vibration-sensitive wafer steppers, while strengthening safety processes for lithium-ion battery shipments. Beyond aircraft capacity, Cathay Cargo is continuing to develop intermodal connectivity through its Hong Kong hub and the wider Greater Bay Area. The carrier is expanding air, land and sea links, while working towards a connected intermodal smart port supported by a Port Community System designed to provide a single view of shipment tracking. The capacity additions come as Cathay Cargo positions its network to accommodate evolving technology-driven cargo flows and higher volumes during the 2026 peak season. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
Dubai-based airline flydubai is expanding its cargo business with the launch of dedicated freighter operations, adding three Boeing 737-800 freighters under a wet-lease agreement with SolitAir. The new operation is scheduled to commence on 1 October 2026 from Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), marking the first phase of the carrier’s dedicated cargo fleet expansion. The three freighters will provide an additional 23,000 kg of payload capacity per flight, complementing cargo carried in the belly holds of flydubai’s existing fleet of 98 Boeing 737 passenger aircraft. The dedicated main-deck capacity is being introduced ahead of the fourth-quarter peak season, while the airline plans to assess passenger-to-freighter conversions from 2029 onwards. Further cargo capacity is also expected as flydubai takes delivery of its planned 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: “Dubai has established itself as one of the world's most connected hubs for E-commerce, trade and logistics, and its ambitions under the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 continue to create new opportunities for businesses to reach global markets. The launch of dedicated freighter operations marks an important step in flydubai’s evolution and reflects our commitment to supporting Dubai's vision through enhanced trade connectivity and logistics capabilities. By building on the strength of our network and expanding our cargo offering and list of codeshare and interline partners, we are creating new pathways for businesses to move goods more efficiently, access new markets and contribute to economic growth across the region and beyond.” Based at DWC, flydubai Cargo will benefit from dedicated airside infrastructure and multimodal connectivity through Dubai South. The freighter operation will support scheduled freight services and point-to-point charter operations across a network of more than 125 destinations spanning Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Europe, the GCC, the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia. The dedicated aircraft will also enable specialised handling for pharmaceuticals, perishables, live animals, dangerous goods, express shipments and aerospace components. Initial flights are expected to focus on high-demand regional sectors, with frequencies increasing as capacity develops. The expansion is intended to position flydubai Cargo as a broader logistics provider offering both scheduled freight and ad-hoc charter solutions. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
DSV is expanding its Air ThermoDirect temperature-controlled air freight network with a new direct connection between Luxembourg Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), strengthening its capabilities for pharmaceutical and healthcare logistics. The logistics provider also plans to introduce an additional direct route between Indianapolis International Airport and Shanghai, further extending its Europe-US-Asia cold chain network. The new Luxembourg-Shanghai service will operate with multiple departures using dedicated freighter aircraft. According to DSV, dedicated capacity gives the company greater control over scheduling, routing and cargo handling, helping improve reliability for temperature-sensitive healthcare shipments. The expansion comes amid growing demand for secure, predictable and efficient pharmaceutical logistics worldwide. Shanghai Pudong International Airport is a key gateway for temperature-controlled pharmaceutical cargo and provides an important link between global manufacturers and healthcare markets across Asia. By expanding its operations at PVG, DSV aims to support both inbound and outbound pharmaceutical flows while maintaining consistent temperature-controlled handling throughout the transportation process. “DSV is helping customers improve supply chain efficiency, reduce operating costs, and ensure the integrity of critical healthcare products across one of the world's fastest-growing regions. Through our sustainable reusable thermal packaging program, we are reducing packaging waste and improving the environmental performance of cold chain logistics. This investment represents another important step in building a more resilient, efficient, healthcare supply chain across Asia,” says Kenneth Kallström, EVP, Global Enterprise Vertical Head, Healthcare, DSV. The Shanghai operation is supported by DSV’s partnership with Eastern Air Logistics (EAL), whose specialised ground-handling facilities will support Air ThermoDirect activities in Shanghai. China Eastern Logistics Cold Chain Ltd. will also provide dedicated cold-chain expertise and infrastructure as a ground-handling partner. A key element of the service is DSV’s use of modular thermal packaging solutions. The approach reduces reliance on active containers and conventional passive packaging, providing a more flexible, scalable and cost-efficient model for temperature-controlled air freight while maintaining pharmaceutical handling requirements. The latest expansion follows DSV’s launch earlier this year of “Indy Wings”, a direct air freight connection between Indianapolis and Luxembourg. With the addition of Shanghai connections, Air ThermoDirect is positioned to provide stronger connectivity between major pharmaceutical production, distribution and consumption markets across Europe, North America and Asia. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
