The Indian air cargo sector is targeting a significant increase in annual throughput at airports, aiming to reach 10 million metric tons by 2030. This ambitious goal faces challenges from stringent security measures and time-consuming processes, prompting industry stakeholders to urge the government for streamlined procedures. In FY 2024, Indian airports handled 3.36 million metric tons of cargo, a 7% increase from the previous year. This includes a 3% rise in domestic cargo and a 9.7% growth in international cargo. However, these figures are still dwarfed by global leaders like Hong Kong International Airport, which handled 4.3 million metric tons in 2023. A critical obstacle is the security regulation that mandates rescreening of cargo, both domestic and international. This process increases costs and complexity, making Indian airports less competitive. Additionally, customs procedures for international goods that transit through multiple airlines require pre-clearance, which remains time-consuming despite automation.
