How is the Indian air cargo sector flying to new heights?

India’s air cargo hits 195,000 tonnes per month, up 13% from 2019, signalling a structural shift in global trade dynamics.

- Rajarshi Chatterjee

Once overshadowed by the booming passenger aviation sector, India’s air freight industry is now charting a dynamic growth trajectory of its own. Over the past five years, the country’s cargo sector has emerged from the shadows of pandemic-induced disruption to become a key pillar of national and international trade, adapting rapidly to shifts in global demand, export composition, and supply chain strategies.

While much of the initial growth post-Covid was about regaining lost ground, the momentum has since evolved into a broader, more structural shift. As Managing Director of Trade and Transport Group, Frederic Horst explains, “A lot of the growth we have been seeing in the last couple of years has only put us back to where we were pre-2020. However, currently, the Indian international air cargo market is running at about 195,000 tonnes per month, which is about 13% higher than in 2019.”

Recent data from the Airport Authority of India (AAI) underscores this trend. In January 2025, Indian airports handled 184,273.8 tonnes of international freight—a 7.1% increase over January 2024’s 171,988.6 tonnes. Over the ten-month period from April 2024 to January 2025 reached 113,662.9 tonnes, up 6.9% from 106,354.1 tonnes in January 2024. Between April 2024 and January 2025, domestic cargo stood at 1,168,600 tonnes, a 6.5% increase over 1,097,516.1 tonnes during the same period the year.

On the domestic front, cargo volumes are also growing steadily. Domestic freight handled in January 2025 reached 113,662.9 tonnes, up 6.9% from 106,354.1 tonnes in January 2024. Between April 2024 and January 2025, domestic cargo stood at 1,168,600 tonnes, a 6.5% increase over 1,097,516.1 tonnes during the same period the year before.