India is targeting a major expansion of its air cargo sector, with Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu setting a goal of 10 million metric tonnes of annual air cargo throughput by 2030. The target would represent a substantial increase from the country’s current cargo-handling capacity of around 8 million metric tonnes.
Naidu has called for stronger investment in cargo infrastructure and greater participation by Indian airlines in the dedicated freighter market. India currently has only around 17 registered freighter aircraft, compared with more than 200 in the US, highlighting the scope for fleet expansion.
The government is also focusing on improving cargo-processing efficiency. Naidu has said the average processing time for air cargo should be reduced from around eight hours to six hours, particularly to support the movement of time-sensitive shipments.
India’s air cargo capacity has been growing at more than 10% annually, supported by rising international trade, e-commerce and the expansion of multimodal logistics infrastructure. The government is seeking to integrate airports more closely with road, rail and other logistics networks to facilitate faster cargo movement.
Recent reforms are also aimed at strengthening India’s position as an international transshipment hub. The expanded transshipment cargo operations at Delhi International Airport are designed to improve cargo connectivity and streamline movement through Indian aviation hubs.
Beyond 2030, the government has set an even larger ambition of more than 21 million metric tonnes of air cargo throughput by 2047. The expansion is expected to create new opportunities for airlines, airports, freight forwarders, cargo terminal operators and logistics companies while supporting India’s broader goal of becoming a global manufacturing and trade hub.