Nashik airport has witnessed a fourfold increase in air cargo volumes during the first quarter of the 2025-26 financial year, handling 2,416 metric tonnes of cargo between April and June. This is a sharp jump from the 556 metric tonnes managed during the same period last fiscal, according to Halcon, which operates the airport’s cargo services.
During the quarter, 145 cargo flights transported a mix of agricultural produce, poultry items, and industrial goods to international destinations, marking the highest quarterly export volume since cargo operations began at the facility. In comparison, the airport had handled 34 cargo flights in Q1 last year.
Halcon—a joint venture between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Container Corporation of India (Concor)- said that the airport managed 4,161 MT of goods through 250 flights during the entire 2024–25 fiscal.
For FY26, it aims to handle around 7,000 MT across 400 cargo flights. “We’ve already achieved 35% of this year’s target,” a Halcon official said.
Calling it a promising development, Ashish Nahar, president of the Nashik Industries & Manufacturers’ Association (NIMA), said, “There is significant potential for air cargo growth from Nashik. NIMA is actively working to increase exports from the region.”
Cargo movement via passenger flights has also seen a boost, thanks to improved air connectivity. A private airline currently operates flights to six destinations: Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Goa, and Indore.
Between April and June 2025, around 124 tonnes of cargo, including flowers, vegetables, auto parts, and couriers, were transported via passenger aircraft to Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad. Last fiscal, the total cargo moved on passenger flights from Nashik stood at 165 tonnes.
The airline operates 232-seater Airbus A321s on Delhi and Bengaluru routes and 180-seater Airbus A320s on the others. In response to growing cargo demand, it has also opened a dedicated office at Halcon’s Air Cargo Complex near the airport for cargo bookings.