GMR-led Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) strengthens its position as Southeast Asia’s leading cargo hub and tranships 8 lakh kg of Bangladeshi cargo in a year. The first batch of transshipment cargo left Delhi airport in March 2023. Since then, Delhi airport has helped tranship Bangladeshi cargo to Spain, Netherlands, France.
CT Bureau
GMR Airports Infrastructure Limited led Delhi Airport has achieved a significant milestone by transhipping over 80 lakh kgs of Bangladeshi cargo to international destinations in the last one year. This achievement not only cements Delhi Airport’s status as the foremost Cargo hub in Southeast Asia and largest cargo airport in the country, but also catalyses a favourable domino effect throughout the aviation industry. The transshipment facility for Bangladeshi cargo first began on February 26, 2023, paving the way for a faster and cost-effective route of shipping export cargo internationally. Since then, Delhi Airport has helped tranship over 80 lakh kgs (8000 MT) of readymade garments to European nations including Spain, Netherlands, and France. The European Union is the second-largest export destination for Bangladeshi apparel, followed by UK and Canada. The first batch of cargo, which left Dhaka on February 26, 2023, arrived at Delhi Airport on March 3, 2023,
and proceeded for its destined location in Spain on March 5, 2023.
The Government of India’s approval on February 7, 2023, allowing Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) to serve as a Cargo Transshipment hub between Bangladesh and other global destinations, has significantly boosted international ties and the national economy. This decision has not only reduced shipment costs for manufacturers but has also led to a daily increase in the export of international cargo via Delhi Airport, covering a spectrum of products, from ready-made garments (RMG) and handlooms to footwear, leather products, jute products, and pharmaceuticals.
The success of transshipment has not only marked a significant milestone in fostering economic growth and international cooperation but has also triggered positive developments in the aviation sector. The Bangladesh cargo influx into Delhi has motivated airlines to enhance their capacity at Delhi Airport, providing Indian exporters with more options in terms of capacity, destinations, and economically beneficial choices.
Understanding the need for quick turnaround time for Cargo, Delhi Airport has installed 28 dual view X-ray machines for international general cargo processing. Keeping in mind the increasing cargo inflow, five extra x-ray machines have been augmented for handling Bangladesh cargo to avoid any congestion for General Cargo. State-of-the-art cargo facility at Delhi Airport, connects businesses to 67 international locations and has handled 5.17 lakh MT of international cargo between April 2023 and January 2024.
Commenting on the development, Sanjiv Edward, CEO, Cargo, GMR Airports, said, “Delhi airport has been playing a pivotal role in enhancing the bilateral trade ties between India and Bangladesh, particularly in facilitating the seamless export of Bangladeshi cargo to global markets. This achievement of transhipping over 5.17 lakh MT of international cargo in a year marks a significant milestone in our commitment to fostering economic growth and international cooperation. The state-of-the-art transshipment facility at Delhi Airport has not only paved the way for a faster and cost-effective route for shipping export cargo but has also positioned Delhi Airport as a key international cargo hub, bridging the gap between East and West.”
Delhi airport is the largest cargo hub airport in the South Asia region, with two integrated cargo terminals having an annual cargo handling capacity of 1.8 million MT, which is scalable to 2.3 million MT. The cargo handling capacity of the Delhi International Airport gives it a unique position to help cater to manufacturers and suppliers internationally, and especially in Southeast Asia for a faster and cost-effective way to ship their cargo across western nations.
Apart from its ability to handle massive cargo loads, the Delhi airport is equipped with state-of the-art handling equipment, advanced screening systems, efficient storage and processing facilities, paperless processes, etc. providing efficient cargo handling services for international as well as domestic cargo.
The cargo terminals of the Delhi International Airport have a world-class infrastructure with GDP-certified temperature-controlled facilities for handling temperature-sensitive cargo. The temperature-controlled cargo facilities have the capacity to handle over 1.5 lakh metruic tonnes per annum. These facilities have state-of-the-art temperature-controlled zones with separate cool chambers ranging from 20°C to 25°C. In terms of airside infrastructure, Delhi airport is the first and only airport in the country to have 12 dedicated freighter parking bays, providing ample capacity for the airlines to move cargo to and from the airport. In fact, the cargo apron can do three nose load operations seamlessly at a single point in time.
