Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has emerged as the fastest-growing international cargo hub in FY 2025, driven largely by pharmaceutical exports but now focusing on diversification into perishables, engineering goods, electronics, and e-commerce. To sustain this growth momentum, it is significantly expanding infrastructure, connectivity, and airline partnerships.
Cargo Infrastructure Expansion
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Expansion of the existing cargo terminal and construction of a second terminal with 50,000-tonne handling capacity.
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A dedicated perishable exports facility (25,000-tonne capacity) with specialized cold chambers for meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
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Plans to add an irradiation facility and pack house to strengthen food safety, quality, and compliance with global export requirements.
Air Connectivity and Airlines
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International air traffic movements have grown by 19% compared to pre-Covid times.
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Number of international destinations increased by 47%.
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New airline connections:
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KLM started thrice-weekly Amsterdam flights.
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Cathay Pacific enhanced Hong Kong flights to daily (winter).
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Freighter growth: Lufthansa and Qatar Airways expanded freighter services, adding 15% more freighter capacity to the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.
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Passenger belly cargo capacity rose by 12%, boosting overall cargo uplift capability.
Strategic Goals
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Compete with Mumbai and Bengaluru by offering direct exports from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, reducing logistics costs.
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Expand high-demand cargo segments such as fresh perishables, express cargo, and pharmaceuticals.
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Tap into new global markets: Europe, CIS, South East Asia.
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Launched a loyalty program for freight forwarders to incentivize usage with benefits like priority handling, demurrage waivers, and reward schemes.
Trade Context
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India’s overall merchandise exports grew 2.5% year-on-year (April–August FY 2025).
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Exports to the US rose 18%, though dipped 14% month-on-month due to a 25% tariff hike on Indian exports.
Hyderabad Airport’s push for infrastructure expansion, diversification, and global air connectivity positions it as a strong competitor in South India’s cargo landscape, especially for pharma, perishables, and e-commerce shipments.
