LEGACY SYSTEMS CONTINUE IN AIR CARGO

India's air cargo sector is booming, with Unit Load Devices (ULDs) playing a vital role in meeting rising demand fuelled by cargo growth and airline expansions, despite challenges with legacy systems and ULD management inefficiencies

- R CHANDRAKANTH

The recovery of the Indian air cargo market has been encouraging. From April 2024 to January 2025, the cargo handled by all airports in India was 19,28,671 metric tonnes (international freight alone), up by 17.2 per cent from the previous period, while domestic freight increased to 11,68,600 metric tonnes, up by 6.5 per cent. The combined cargo growth was 12.9 per cent, which is healthy indeed. By 2030, the tonnage is forecast to touch nearly 6 million metric tonnes, with international freight outpacing domestic, as per the Airports Authority of India.

The growth is attributed to a combination of factors, including the performance of the manufacturing sector, strong exports by pharma and perishables, rapid expansion in e-commerce and significant improvements in infrastructure.

Very much part of infrastructure are the ground handling systems at airports and with airlines. Fortunately, several airports in India are investing substantially in expanding cargo facilities, though as an adjunct to passenger facilities. In 2024-25 (April to January 2025), the Indira Gandhi International Airport at New Delhi, with its dedicated cargo terminals and advanced handling systems, handled 609,419 metric tonnes of international freight and 315,990 metric tonnes of domestic freight. Similarly, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, which has a new cargo terminal (including temperature-controlled facilities for perishable goods), handled 543,596 metric tonnes of international freight and 197,959 metric tonnes of domestic freight. Another airport that is doing well in cargo is the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, which is handling high-tech goods and perishables at an encouraging pace. The story is similar in other key metro stations.

ULDs critical to cargo movement