Hong Kong-based air freight operator Cathay Cargo plans to ramp up investments in India, citing the country’s expanding role as a global manufacturing hub and its strategic importance to the airline’s long-term growth, a senior executive said.
Cathay Cargo currently operates 13 dedicated freighter flights per week to India, comprising five services each to Delhi and Chennai and three to Mumbai. India has remained a core market for the carrier, which began operations in the country in 1953 and launched freighter services in 2000.
“India has always been an incredibly important market for us, and it continues to show immense promise and growth,” said Rajesh Menon, Regional Head of Cargo for South Asia, the Middle East and Africa at Cathay Cargo, in an interview with PTI. He said the company remains committed to strengthening its footprint as India’s manufacturing and logistics ecosystem continues to expand.
Menon pointed to government initiatives such as Make in India and PM Gati Shakti as key drivers improving investor confidence and logistics efficiency. The Gati Shakti national master plan aims to reduce logistics costs through integrated infrastructure development, while Make in India seeks to position the country as a global manufacturing and innovation hub.
As of October 31, 2025, Cathay Cargo offered around 103,000 tonnes of capacity in India and recorded an 11% year-on-year increase in tonnage uplift from the country. Demand has been supported by strong growth in sectors such as mobile manufacturing, automobiles and pharmaceuticals.
While Asia-Pacific freighter operators have ceded some market share to Middle Eastern carriers in recent years, Menon said this reflects expanding demand rather than heightened competition. “Everyone has a share now, and that means demand in India is growing,” he said.
The imbalance between inbound and outbound air cargo flows remains, but Menon expects the gap to narrow as India’s manufacturing base deepens. India handled about 3.5 million tonnes of air cargo in 2018, and the government has set a target of reaching 10 million tonnes by 2030.
Achieving this goal will require closer coordination among government agencies and industry stakeholders, Menon said, stressing the need for a unified approach to infrastructure, policy and operations.
From a market perspective, Delhi continues to be Cathay Cargo’s strongest import hub, followed by Chennai, while Mumbai leads on the export side.
Cathay Director of Cargo Dominic Perret has previously indicated that the company could further expand its presence in India depending on market dynamics. Through co-terminalisation of freighter services from Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, Cathay could also serve emerging manufacturing centres such as Hyderabad, Bengaluru and potentially Ahmedabad, he said.
