Air India successfully operationalises India's new cargo transshipment framework; pilot project expanded to additional India-Europe corridors

Air India announced the successful operationalisation of the Government of India's new cargo transshipment policy through an ongoing Proof of Concept (PoC) on the Chennai-Delhi-Frankfurt air cargo corridor, launched on 20 June 2026.

Air India’s Cargo Transshipment Breakthrough
- Policy Launch: New cargo transshipment framework operationalised via a Proof of Concept (PoC) on the Chennai–Delhi–Frankfurt corridor (20 June 2026).
- Key Reform: Eligible shipments remain securely packed in Unit Load Devices (ULDs) during transit, eliminating piece-level re-screening at Delhi.

Impact:
- Cargo throughput doubled: 2.2 MT/day → 4.5 MT/day
- 300 MT moved in two months (June–August 2026)
- Connection times cut from 36–48 hours → 5–8 hours
- Flown-as-Booked (FAB) performance improved from 76% → 100%
- Zero loss/damage, strong customer satisfaction (DHL, Dachser, DVS, Kuehne+Nagel praised the process).

Expansion
- Pilot extended to cover shipments from Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai via Delhi.
- Europe destinations: Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London Heathrow.
- BCAS authorised PoC to validate process ahead of nationwide rollout.

Strategic Significance
- Positions Delhi as India’s premier cargo hub, with potential to attract 2M+ MT of annual transshipment cargo across 95+ corridors.
- Benefits ripple across logistics: freight forwarders, e-commerce, warehousing, ground handling.
- Reinforces India’s ambition to rival established hubs like Dubai and Singapore.

Simplification
- Old way: unpack, re-screen, rebuild → delays + risks.
- New way: sealed ULDs, streamlined security → faster, safer, more predictable.

This is a game-changing logistics reform: it not only boosts Air India’s cargo volumes but also strengthens India’s competitiveness in global trade flows.