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IAG Cargo is significantly strengthening its India operations by increasing its UK-India network to 70 weekly flights, underscoring the country's growing importance in global air cargo. The expansion includes the launch of a third daily London Heathrow–Delhi service from September 19, 2026, creating additional capacity for exporters shipping high-value and time-sensitive cargo.
The new year-round service will be operated by British Airways using a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. With the addition, IAG Cargo will operate three daily services each to Delhi and Mumbai, alongside increased frequencies to Bengaluru, taking its total India schedule from 56 weekly flights in 2025 to 70 this winter.
The capacity expansion comes at a strategic moment, just days after the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) came into force on July 15. The agreement is expected to accelerate bilateral trade by lowering barriers and boosting exports across multiple sectors, creating fresh opportunities for air cargo operators serving one of the world's fastest-growing trade corridors.
According to IAG Cargo, demand on the Delhi route has been particularly robust. Between January and May 2026, outbound cargo volumes from Delhi increased 12.6%, while inbound volumes grew 14.4% compared with the same period last year. The airline expects the additional frequencies to support rising shipment volumes while offering businesses improved connectivity to Europe, North America, Latin America and the Middle East through its London Heathrow hub.
India continues to be a major export market for high-value air freight, including pharmaceuticals, aerospace and automotive components, fashion, perishables and rapidly growing e-commerce shipments. Industry data also indicates that India's export air cargo volumes increased by around 5% during the first five months of 2026, reinforcing the country's expanding role in international supply chains.
Commenting on the expansion, Camilo Garcia Cervera, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at IAG Cargo, said India remains one of the airline's most important markets, with demand continuing to rise across key trade lanes. He noted that the additional Delhi frequency will provide customers with greater cargo capacity and stronger global connections via London Heathrow.
The latest expansion reflects a broader trend among international carriers increasing investments in India as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, electronics and e-commerce exports continue to drive demand for reliable long-haul air freight capacity. With stronger trade ties between India and the UK and improving global connectivity, airlines are positioning themselves to capture the next phase of growth in one of the world's fastest-expanding cargo markets.
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Hong Kong Air Cargo has launched a dedicated freighter service from Mumbai, expanding its India network and strengthening cargo connectivity between India, Hong Kong and onward global markets. The new service adds dedicated inbound cargo capacity to India while giving exporters in the country greater access to Hong Kong and international destinations. The launch comes within two months of Aeroprime Group being appointed as Hong Kong Air Cargo’s Cargo General Sales and Service Agent (GSSA) in India. Abhishek Goyal, Executive Director, Aeroprime Group, said Mumbai is one of India’s strategic cargo gateways and that the new service would provide customers with greater capacity, improved connectivity and reliable cargo solutions. He added that the launch reflects the commitment and agility of both teams. Raymond Chen, Vice President and Commercial Spokesperson, Hong Kong Air Cargo, said the Mumbai freighter service marks an important step in the airline’s India growth strategy. He highlighted Mumbai’s importance as a key export hub and credited Aeroprime Group with supporting the airline’s expansion in the Indian market. The Mumbai launch strengthens Hong Kong Air Cargo’s focus on India while expanding Aeroprime Group’s role in the carrier’s market development and commercial activities. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates
Oman Air has strengthened its global cargo footprint by launching five new routes within a single week, marking one of the airline’s most ambitious network expansion initiatives in recent years. The move is expected to improve cargo connectivity across Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Russia while enhancing the carrier’s ability to transport time-sensitive, high-value and temperature-sensitive shipments. The expansion introduces new services from Muscat to Singapore, Tashkent, Sochi and Abu Dhabi, alongside a new Salalah-Dubai connection. Operated using Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, the additional services provide greater flexibility for freight forwarders and shippers by increasing belly cargo capacity across strategically important trade corridors. Among the newly launched destinations, Singapore and Tashkent are expected to play a pivotal role in supporting regional trade. Singapore serves as one of Asia’s leading logistics and transshipment hubs, while Tashkent strengthens Oman Air’s access to Central Asian markets. The Sochi route extends the airline’s reach into Russia, and the Abu Dhabi and Dubai connections further reinforce cargo flows within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. The expanded network also aligns with Oman Air Cargo’s strategy of growing its capabilities in transporting perishables and other temperature-controlled commodities. Improved connectivity is expected to facilitate the movement of fresh produce, seafood, pharmaceuticals and other high-value cargo requiring fast and reliable transit. According to Michael Duggan, Head of Cargo at Oman Air, the new destinations provide customers with broader network options while supporting the efficient movement of time-critical shipments. He noted that expanding the airline’s perishables offering remains a strategic priority as customer demand for specialised cargo solutions continues to increase. The new schedule includes four weekly services to Singapore, two weekly flights to Tashkent, daily operations to Abu Dhabi, and additional frequencies linking Salalah with Dubai and Muscat with Sochi. These services are designed to improve network flexibility while enabling smoother connections across Oman Air’s wider international network. The latest expansion reflects Oman Air’s broader strategy of positioning Muscat as a regional logistics gateway connecting East and West. By strengthening its route network and increasing access to emerging trade markets, the airline aims to offer customers improved supply chain resilience, faster transit times and enhanced cargo solutions. As global supply chains continue to diversify, expanded air cargo connectivity will play a crucial role in supporting international trade. Oman Air’s latest network additions are expected to strengthen its competitive position while creating new opportunities for exporters, importers and logistics providers seeking efficient access to high-growth markets across Asia and the Middle East. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
Saudia Cargo has launched a new scheduled freighter service connecting Riyadh (RUH) and Melbourne (MEL), strengthening air cargo connectivity between Saudi Arabia and Australia. The service, which commenced on 25 July, forms part of the carrier's strategy to expand its international network and support growing trade between the two markets. The new route will be operated using a Boeing 747-400 freighter, offering cargo capacity of more than 100 tonnes per flight. The aircraft's nose-loading capability enables the transport of heavy, oversized and high-volume shipments, broadening the range of cargo that can be handled on the route. According to the airline, the service has been introduced in response to increasing market demand and is expected to strengthen global supply chains while providing Saudi exporters with improved access to the Australian market. The route also creates a direct logistics corridor for Australian businesses seeking faster access to the Middle East. The freighter service will support the movement of a wide range of commodities, including perishable products, pharmaceuticals, industrial equipment and e-commerce shipments, addressing the growing demand for specialised and time-sensitive air freight services between the two regions. The launch has been supported through collaboration with the General Authority for Foreign Trade (GAFT) and the Saudi Export Development Authority (Saudi Exports) as part of broader efforts to enhance the Kingdom's export capabilities and expand international trade opportunities. Saudia Cargo is also working with the Saudi-Australian Business Council to strengthen engagement with logistics providers and businesses in Australia. The partnership is expected to improve supply chain coordination, reduce transit times and provide customers with greater flexibility in cargo transportation. The airline said the new Melbourne service aligns with Saudi Arabia's long-term logistics and trade objectives by expanding global connectivity and supporting bilateral commerce. The company transported more than 570,000 tonnes of cargo across its international network last year, reflecting continued growth in its air freight operations. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
