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Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (KIAB / BLR Airport) has maintained its position as India’s leading airport for handling perishable cargo for the third consecutive year. The airport has processed 44,143 MT of perishable cargo in the current year till January 2023 (full-year results awaited) and 52,366 MT during FY22. BLR Cargo contributed to 28% of India’s and 45% of South India’s market share for perishable cargo, with top export commodities being poultry products and flowers, and the top destination being Doha.
BLR Airport has also become the third-ranked airport in India for handling international cargo, with top export destinations including LEJ, FRA, MXP, SIN, and DXB, and top import destinations including SIN, FRA, DXB, HKG, and BKK. The airport has seen growth in various sectors, including pharma, engineering goods, ready-made garments, and electrical sectors. During Valentine’s Day season, BLR Airport handled 17.4 million roses, indicating a 14% rise compared to the previous season.
UPS started its operations in July 2022, offering five weekly scheduled flights connecting Shenzhen-Bangalore-Cologne. On the same day, the UPS facility at BLR Airport’s Express Cargo Terminal became operational. BLR Airport has now become the only airport in South India and the second airport in India to have the three world’s largest express players – DHL, FedEx, and UPS present on its premises. Starting from January 6, 2023, Quikjet initiated domestic freighter services at BLR Airport for Amazon Prime Air, providing a daily service between DEL-BLR-HYD. Sichuan Airlines started scheduled freighter operations on October 30, 2022, operating CTU-BLR-SZX routes.
BLR Airport aims to create a cargo handling capacity of around 1 million metric tonnes per annum by the end of the decade to meet the needs of its expanding cargo operations. The Airport has selected AISATS (Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited) to construct, plan, and manage the cargo Logistics Park infrastructure. Additionally, during FY23 the Airport launched its cargo brand proposition, BLR CARGO, becoming the first Airport in India to develop a dedicated brand identity for its cargo business.
