In a landmark policy shift, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has relaxed its mandatory re-screening requirement for transit cargo, a move poised to significantly enhance India’s standing as a regional transshipment hub.
Until now, all cargo, domestic or international—switching aircraft at Indian airports had to undergo compulsory X-ray screening. This rigid rule led to increased handling times and costs, putting Indian carriers and airports at a disadvantage against more flexible hubs in the region.
Responding to longstanding industry demands, including those from the Air Cargo Forum of India, BCAS has now issued revised guidelines that allow transit and transfer cargo to bypass redundant screening, provided specific security protocols are in place.
Central to the new policy is the creation of a Transfer Cargo Security Hold Area (TCSHA), where cargo will be protected from unauthorized access during its layover. Security escorts will accompany cargo to and from the aircraft, ensuring continued oversight. However, shipments flagged as high-risk or tampered will still be subject to screening.
Industry stakeholders have welcomed the development as a long-overdue and impactful reform.
“The latest BCAS guideline is a much-needed and welcome reform and will ease the transshipment movement and bring in efficiencies.This is a big boost for the express logistics and e-commerce sector, where speed and reliability matter most. The move will help develop secure, efficient express global hubs with increased express freighter movement at Indian airports. This will also create employment opportunities, aid the economy, and benefit the entire logistics ecosystem. It aligns India with global cargo standards and strengthens our position as a key logistics hub in the region. We fully support this forward-looking initiative and look forward to working closely with all stakeholders to bring it to life,” said Vijay Kumar, CEO, Express Industry Council of India (EICI)
The changes are also expected to benefit Indian carriers like Air India and IndiGo, enabling them to scale up high-yield cargo operations, especially on long-haul routes. Currently, procedural bottlenecks have prevented Indian carriers from capitalizing on lucrative transshipment opportunities, such as Air India’s limited cargo flow between the US and Australia, despite operating passenger routes between the two.
Manoj Singh, a senior air cargo professional, noted, “Transfer or transit cargo accounts for less than 10 per cent of India’s total air cargo volume. The BCAS directions are a welcome step and will help India achieve its ambitions of handling 10 million tonnes of air cargo by 2030.” In FY2024, India managed 3.36 million tonnes.
By streamlining cargo flow, cutting operational delays, and aligning with international practices, India is positioning itself to emerge as a preferred cargo transshipment destination, one that combines scale, speed, and security
