Operated by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd., Hyderabad Airport has emerged as one of India’s leading air cargo gateways, particularly for pharmaceuticals, perishables and high-value exports. With the launch of its new Cargo Terminal 2, the airport is expanding capacity while strengthening its position as a technology-driven logistics hub. In this interview, Kadhir Kadhiravan, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd., discusses how the airport is redefining its role in global supply chains through advanced cargo infrastructure, digitalisation, specialised cold-chain capabilities, strategic airline partnerships and multimodal connectivity, while outlining Hyderabad’s vision to become a future-ready, globally competitive cargo and logistics hub.
Hyderabad Airport is scaling cargo capacity at a time when supply chains are becoming more complex and time-sensitive. How are you rethinking the airport’s role, not just as a transit point, but as a critical node in global supply chains?
At Hyderabad Airport, we are moving beyond a transit role to become a critical, integrated node in global supply chains, driven by infrastructure and processes that enable faster, smarter, and more reliable cargo movement. With the newly operationalised infrastructure at Cargo Terminal 2, we are enhancing throughput and turnaround efficiency of cargo consignments through dedicated zones, parallel processing, and streamlined handling, significantly reducing dwell times and improving predictability. The infrastructure created has a focus on high-value, time-sensitive cargo, supported by advanced temperature-controlled pharma and perishable zones. This positions Hyderabad as a preferred hub for industries such as life sciences, perishables, and express logistics.
At the same time, we are building a seamless, collaborative ecosystem by integrating airlines, logistics players, and regulatory bodies, supported by strong airside-landside connectivity. Designed for scalability and resilience, the new terminal enables us to adapt to evolving trade patterns, firmly positioning Hyderabad as a future-ready logistics hub driving efficiency, agility, and reliability in global supply chains. Hyderabad Airport has direct long-haul freighter connections through Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines, linking the airport to major hubs such as Frankfurt, Istanbul, and Addis Ababa—effectively bypassing Middle East chokepoints where current supply chain disruptions are concentrated. This launch of the new cargo terminal in Hyderabad marks a significant step in strengthening India’s air logistics ecosystem, with GMR Aero – Cargo & Logistics reinforcing its commitment to worldclass infrastructure and serving the industry in the region with products that add value to their business.
Beyond adding capacity, what operational or technological changes are being introduced to improve efficiency, reduce dwell times, and enhance the overall cargo handling experience?
Beyond capacity expansion, our focus has been on introducing process-driven efficiencies and advanced infrastructure capabilities that significantly enhance the overall cargo handling experience. We have implemented a highly optimised operational layout with dedicated parallel build-up and breakdown areas for pharma, export and import operations, enabling simultaneous handling of shipments. This approach directly improves throughput and reduces cargo dwell times. A key enhancement is the integration of multi-level racking systems and spacious processing areas, which maximise storage efficiency while ensuring faster cargo retrieval and movement. The design supports streamlined cargo flows, minimising bottlenecks at every stage of handling.
In addition, we have also implemented a range of technology-driven and process-led interventions to enhance efficiency and reduce dwell times. These include ERP-integrated weight scale automation and advanced handheld devices for faster cargo acceptance and real-time data capture, conveyor systems in the Export Terminal to streamline cargo movement and minimise manual handling, and Automated Vertical Carousel (AVC) systems in the Import Terminal for high-density storage and quicker retrieval. Security has been strengthened through PIDS integrated with AI-enabled CCTV analytics and centralised monitoring, enabling proactive surveillance.
Additionally, digitised customer interfaces such as a CRM platform with SLA tracking and a WhatsApp-based chatbot have improved visibility and responsiveness, while QR-based hazard reporting enhances safety. Together with cold chain upgrades, including -20°C storage and airside reefer trucks, these initiatives create a more agile, transparent, and technology-enabled cargo ecosystem. Overall, these interventions collectively enable a faster, more reliable, and efficient cargo ecosystem, positioning Hyderabad Airport as a highperformance logistics hub capable of meeting evolving global supply chain demands.
Hyderabad has emerged as a key pharma export hub. How will the new cargo infrastructure strengthen specialised supply chains like pharma, and are you looking at expanding into other highvalue segments?
Hyderabad’s strong positioning as a global pharma hub is a key focus area for us, and Cargo Terminal 2 has been purpose-built to strengthen specialised temperature-sensitive supply chains. The terminal features a large, fully temperature-controlled pharma zone with advanced monitoring systems, ensuring end-toend cold chain integrity, precision handling, and faster processing critical for life-saving and highvalue pharmaceutical shipments.
This is an abridged version of the interaction published in the August edition of the Logistics Insider Magazine. to read the complete interactions, click here.
