India’s air cargo sector is stepping up efforts to meet its goal of handling 10 million tonnes of freight by 2030, a target repeatedly reaffirmed by government leaders and industry stakeholders.
The goal took centre stage at a panel during Air Cargo India 2026 in Mumbai, where industry executives mapped out strategic, policy and technology shifts needed to transform India into a global logistics powerhouse.
The country currently handles around 3.5 million tonnes of air cargo annually, according to government statements and industry estimates.
Achieving nearly a threefold increase in just a few years will require coordinated reforms and investments across infrastructure, technology, regulation and the wider manufacturing ecosystems.
Opening the session, moderator Balasubramin P., founder and CEO of ACCIS, underscored both the urgency and scale of the challenge.
“Reaching 10 million tonnes is not optional—it’s essential if India is to emerge as a global cargo hub,” he said, noting persistent bottlenecks in infrastructure, regulatory processes and multimodal integration.
His remarks echoed broader government sentiment; Prime Minister Narendra Modi has similarly called the 2030 cargo trajectory “a testimony to India’s rising role in the global supply-chain ecosystem”.
Technology and Digitalization: Cornerstones of Growth
Panellist Kamal Hingorani, board member and chief officer of SpiceExpress emphasized that technology adoption must accelerate dramatically. “We need a government mandate to push digitization,” he argued, calling for paperless processing, electronic cargo documentation and real-time visibility tools across the supply chain. He warned that without such changes, inefficiencies will continue to inflate costs and slow throughput.
His comments echoed national policy discourse. Industry experts have repeatedly stressed that AI-driven tracking, blockchain-based transparency systems, and automated cargo processing are crucial to meeting the 2030 target. Even so, gaps remain in mandating uniform digital practices across airports, freight terminals and customs operations.
Infrastructure and Capacity: Public and Private Players Need to Move Faster
“Good infrastructure and connectivity are nonnegotiable if we want to scale,” said Manish Agnihothri, CEOof WFS (Bengaluru), noting that even existing facilities are not always utilized efficiently. India currently has an estimated 6.5 million tonnes of cargo-handling capacity, but full optimization—and further expansion—will be necessary to support future volumes.
Panellists pointed to opportunities in private airports, the expansion of regional terminals and the development of dedicated transshipment hubs.
These infrastructure priorities align with ongoing national projects including major new airports at Noida and Navi Mumbai, both expected to significantly enhance freight capabilities by the late 2020s.
Policy Reform: The Need for Greater Uniformity and Speed
Mark Sutch, head of international development and CCO Cargo, IndiGo, stressed that “uniform policy across the country is essential,” especially where customs, cargo transshipment and operating procedures vary widely between jurisdictions.
He urged policymakers to bring greater consistency to processes such as 24/7 customs operations, risk-based inspections, and centralized clearance windows—friction points that slow down cargo movement today.
The panel’s calls mirror guidance from national logistics bodies, including the Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI), which has argued that India can only reach 10 million tonnes with synchronized regulatory reforms, expanded freighter capacity and streamlined governance frameworks.
Manufacturing & Market Development: Driving Export‑Led Cargo Growth
For Prithviraj Chug, CEO of Group Concorde, the missing piece is stronger manufacturing output, particularly in high‑value sectors such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, and precision engineering. “We need more factories, more investment and more new markets,” he said, noting that ease of doing business still requires major improvements.
National forecasts support this outlook, with Boeing projecting long‑term annual air cargo growth of 6.3%, driven heavily by expanding manufacturing and ecommerce demand.
Several panelists stressed that India must also rethink how existing infrastructure is used. “It’s not just about building more—it’s about using what we already have far more efficiently,” said Balasubramin, calling for a mindset shift toward speed, productivity and excellence.
The panel concluded with a shared view that collaboration and consistency across industry players will define whether India reaches the 2030 milestone.
A Transformative Decade Ahead
As India positions itself amid shifting global supply chains, the 10-million tonne target stands as both a rallying point and a measure of the country’s logistics ambitions.
With policy momentum, infrastructure acceleration and industry alignment, India’s leaders argue the goal is within reach. But as the Air Cargo India panel made clear, delivering on that vision will demand bold action—and sustained commitment—from every stakeholder in the ecosystem.
By Darren Barton, Air Cargo India, Mumbai
