Kempegowda International Airport has strengthened its position as South India’s leading air cargo gateway, overtaking Chennai Airport in international freight handling and widening the overall cargo gap, driven by robust export growth, superior connectivity and expanding cargo infrastructure.
According to Airports Authority of India (AAI) data, Bengaluru handled 31,652 tonnes of international cargo in May 2026, surpassing Chennai’s 29,721 tonnes. A year earlier, in May 2025, Chennai had narrowly led the segment with 28,208 tonnes, compared with Bengaluru’s 27,992 tonnes, highlighting a significant shift in cargo dynamics over the past year.
Bengaluru recorded a 13.1% year-on-year increase in international cargo during May 2026, considerably higher than Chennai’s 5.4% growth. The trend was also evident in April, when Bengaluru posted 11.6% growth compared to Chennai’s 9.3%.
The airport also continued to dominate domestic cargo operations. Bengaluru handled 17,578 tonnes of domestic freight in May 2026, registering a 17.1% year-on-year increase, while Chennai processed 9,015 tonnes, reflecting an 8% growth.
With its strong performance across both domestic and international segments, Bengaluru retained its position as India’s third-largest air cargo airport, behind Delhi and Mumbai, while Chennai remained in fourth place.
Overall, Bengaluru handled nearly 10,500 tonnes more cargo than Chennai during May 2026, underscoring its emergence as a preferred gateway for high-value and time-sensitive exports.
Industry experts attribute Bengaluru’s rapid growth to the city’s expanding manufacturing ecosystem, particularly in electronics, smartphones, semiconductors, aerospace components, pharmaceuticals and e-commerce logistics. Enhanced international freighter connectivity and greater cargo capacity have also contributed to its rising prominence.
Meanwhile, Chennai continues to remain a major export hub for automobiles, engineering goods, industrial machinery and leather products. However, industry sources indicate that a growing share of export cargo from manufacturing clusters around Sriperumbudur and Oragadam is increasingly being transported by bonded trucks to Bengaluru for international uplift, attracted by better flight connectivity, higher cargo capacity and competitive freight rates.
J. Krishnan, Partner at S. Natesa Iyer Logistics LLP, noted that Bengaluru’s efficient ground infrastructure and superior freighter availability have made it an attractive cargo gateway for exporters across southern India.
Similarly, Sharmindar Saravanan, Managing Director of SSK Smart Move Logistics Pvt. Ltd., said Bengaluru’s success reflects its long-term strategy of building an integrated airport logistics ecosystem rather than focusing solely on aviation infrastructure. He observed that while Chennai serves one of India’s largest manufacturing belts, slower infrastructure expansion and commercial execution have enabled Bengaluru to steadily strengthen its leadership in both passenger and cargo traffic.
The latest cargo performance reinforces Bengaluru’s growing role as one of India’s fastest-expanding air freight hubs, supported by strong export demand, modern logistics infrastructure and increasing global connectivity.
