India Poised to Become Global Air Cargo Hub
Roadmap for 2030 Charts New Path in Knowledge Paper
The Indian air cargo sector is at a crossroads, poised to leapfrog into the global spotlight as a major logistics hub by 2030. The latest knowledge paper released jointly by ACFI and ASCELA Insights outlines a bold vision for India's air cargo industry, highlighting opportunities, challenges, and strategic actions needed to achieve this ambitious goal.
Key Takeaways:
- India is projected to triple its air cargo volumes to 10 million metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) by 2030.
- The report highlights the sector's rapid evolution, driven by e-commerce growth, policy momentum, greenfield infrastructure, and increasing demand for high-value cargo like pharmaceuticals and perishables.
- ACFI is partnering with TIACA to bolster regional connectivity and global knowledge sharing.
Strategic Roadmap for 2030
The report emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach among industry stakeholders, government agencies, and regulatory bodies. Key action areas include:
- Creating transhipment hubs with 24x7 clearance and zero rescreening
- Implementing a National Unified Digital Clearance Window and Cargo Command Centres
- Providing incentives for freighter acquisition and developing plug-and-play terminals across regional hubs
Embracing ESG in Air Cargo
The report highlights the importance of integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into India's air cargo sector. This includes setting targets for SAF blending, improving cold-chain infrastructure, and enhancing female workforce participation.
Building Rerouting Resilience
India needs to adopt best practices from global hubs like Singapore and Frankfurt to develop integrator-like facilities and efficient customs processes.
"The Indian air cargo sector is at a pivotal inflection point and undergoing rapid transformation. At this crucial juncture, this knowledge paper outlines the strategic roadmap until 2030, infrastructure requirements, policy reforms, and the initiatives by the air cargo industry to achieve the ambitious target of 10 MTPA of air cargo volumes set by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India."
— Mr. Sanjiv Edward, President, ACFI