India air cargo market seen rising to 6.9 million tonnes by FY2030

India’s air cargo and express logistics market is projected to grow from about 3.9 million tonnes in FY2026 to 6.9 million tonnes by FY2030, driven by pharma exports, e-commerce, new cargo hubs and better connectivity. Makreo Research says the market’s next phase will hinge on turning new infrastructure into higher throughput across major airports and regional gateways.

Why it matters: - India’s air cargo market is moving into a hub-led expansion phase that could reshape freight flows, airport investment and export logistics. - The market is growing in a country where air freight still makes up only about 0.06% of total freight transport activity, so even modest modal gains can have outsized impact. - Pharma, electronics and e-commerce demand are pushing the need for specialized cargo infrastructure, faster handling and stronger regional links.

What happened: - Makreo Research projected India’s air cargo volumes will rise from about 3.9 million tonnes in FY2026 to 6.9 million tonnes by FY2030 in its report, India Air Cargo and Express Logistics Market and Forecast to 2031. - The forecast points to support from pharmaceutical exports, electronics exports, e-commerce shipments, new airport cargo hubs and transshipment reforms. - Makreo Research estimated airport cargo-handling infrastructure operated at 42.12% capacity utilization in FY2023–24. - India is the sixth-largest air cargo market globally. - Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai handled about 80% of India’s air cargo in 2024, according to IATA.

The details: - Makreo Research estimated the India air cargo and courier services market recorded a revenue CAGR of about 1.30% during FY2023–FY2026E. - Northern India accounted for about 32.32% of the country’s air cargo and courier services market revenue. - Delhi Airport handled about 0.63 million tonnes of cargo in H1 FY2027, up 12.2% year on year. - Hyderabad Airport handled about 102,000 tonnes in H1 FY2027, up 5.8% year on year. - India’s domestic air cargo approached 1.5 million tonnes in FY2026. - Tier-II and Tier-III cities accounted for more than 45% of online shopping demand, lifting the need for regional cargo connectivity and integrated air-road networks. - International express logistics remains export-heavy, with exports making up about 75%–80% of shipments. - Daily export consignments reached about 45,000–48,000 by FY2026, versus about 12,000 imports. - Delhivery handled 325 million express parcels in Q2 FY2027, up 32% year on year. - Blue Dart reported 15% revenue growth and an 85% increase in profit after tax in Q1 FY2027. - Pharmaceutical exports exceeded USD 30.5 billion in FY2026. - Pharmaceuticals account for nearly 70% of outbound air cargo shipments. - The U.S. and Europe are the main destination markets for those exports. - Hyderabad commissioned a second cargo terminal in May 2026 with a fully temperature-controlled pharmaceutical zone, initial capacity of 50,000 tonnes and expansion room to 100,000 tonnes a year. - India needs more than USD 170 billion in aviation investment through 2030, including USD 24 billion for airport expansion and USD 150 billion for aircraft orders. - An additional INR 25,000 crore is expected in airport cargo infrastructure over the next five to seven years. - Noida International Airport began operations in June 2026 with an initial annual cargo capacity of 200,000 tonnes, expandable to 1.5 million tonnes. - Navi Mumbai International Airport handled 11,853 tonnes of cargo during January–September 2026, including 6,477 tonnes of international freight. - FedEx is developing a 300,000 sq ft automated hub at Navi Mumbai with more than INR 2,500 crore in long-term investment. - FedEx is also building a USD 150 million Delhi facility designed to raise processing capacity from 600 to 5,000 packages per hour. - Blue Dart Express opened a 250,000 sq ft multimodal logistics hub in Delhi in January 2025 that can handle about 550,000 shipments daily. - UPS SCS India nearly doubled Delhi–Cologne air cargo capacity in June 2025 by deploying a Boeing 747-8 freighter.

Between the lines: - The market’s growth story is no longer just about more demand; it is about whether airports and logistics operators can convert capacity into usable throughput. - The heavy concentration at a few metro airports shows why regional hubs matter, but the data also suggests infrastructure alone will not spread traffic unless connectivity and handling efficiency improve. - Pharma and express logistics are shaping the market toward temperature-controlled, time-critical and international cargo services rather than basic volume growth alone.

What’s next: - Airports are expected to focus on better capacity utilization and regional connectivity. - Express integrators and freight forwarders are likely to push transshipment efficiency, automation and multimodal networks. - Pharmaceutical and electronics exporters should keep driving demand for specialized cargo facilities and reliable international links. - Makreo Research said smaller-city air freight and multimodal networks could grow by more than 20% annually.

The bottom line: - India’s air cargo market has the demand, but the next leg of growth depends on execution: better infrastructure use, faster handling and stronger links beyond the biggest metro airports.