Mumbai, Aug. 27 -- India has launched transshipment cargo operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI Airport) following a pilot that demonstrated domestic to international linkage via a hub model. The Chennai-Delhi-Frankfurt sector served as the initial proof of concept and was operated end to end by Air India, with the pilot programme beginning on 20 June 2026. The initiative aims to connect domestic and international sectors through an intermediate airport to streamline freight movements.
During the pilot the Ministry of Civil Aviation reported that 280 metric tonnes (t) were transshipped and that aircraft capacity utilisation on the route rose from 75 per cent to nearly 100 per cent. The expanded network is projected to raise Air India's monthly cargo carriage on these routes from 1,763 metric tonnes to 3,183 metric tonnes, representing an increase of nearly 80 per cent after the addition of new domestic and international points. The proof of concept therefore demonstrated both volume and efficiency gains for carrier operations.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security revised its cargo security framework to remove redundant X ray re-screening at transit airports for cargo already secured at source, a change the ministry said reduced mandatory re-screening in the transshipment chain. Officials reported that transit times were shortened from 60 hours to 20 hours in a ministerial statement, while a separate state media broadcast cited a reduction from 50-60 hours to 17-20 hours for the same reform announced on 19 August 2026. The regulatory adjustments are intended to speed throughput while maintaining security oversight.
Terminal two of IGI Airport houses the Transshipment Excellence Centre that underpinned the cargo reform initiative and Delhi International Airport Limited continues to operate the airport under the concession framework. Transshipment hubs are used in air cargo logistics to consolidate freight, improve route connectivity and support faster connections between domestic and international services. The pilot is expected to inform wider rollout decisions and operational monitoring as authorities and carriers refine processes to sustain efficiency gains.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.