AIR CARGO INDIA, MUMBAI - PREVIEW F
AIR CARG O WEEK
EMIRATES SKYCARGO DOUBLES DOWN ON INDIA
BY Edward HARDY
India’s accelerating transition from a cost-led export base to a value- driven manufacturing economy. With India now firmly embedded in global supply chains for
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pharmaceuticals, electronics and advanced manufacturing, exporters are prioritising frequency, reliability and hub connectivity. Demand on east– west trade lanes, particularly into Europe and North America, remains structurally strong, underpinned by nearshoring, diversification away from China and India’s expanding production footprint. “India has long been one of our priority markets – in fact, Mumbai and
Delhi were among the first three destinations we launched to in 1985,” said Khalid Bardan, Vice President Cargo Commercial – West Asia and Indian Ocean Islands at Emirates SkyCargo. “Since then, we’ve gone from strength to strength, and now serve nine gateways with 167 passenger flights and three freighters every week. Looking ahead, we see no signs of a slowdown in India, in the next quarter and beyond.”
Export evolution drives capacity deployment India’s export profile has evolved rapidly over the past decade, reshaping air cargo demand patterns and operational requirements. Where volumes were once dominated by perishables and low-to-mid value goods, shipments are increasingly characterised by higher unit values, stricter handling parameters and tighter delivery windows. For Emirates SkyCargo, this evolution is reflected not just in tonnage,
but in the complexity of cargo flows moving through its network. Pharmaceuticals and electronics require predictable uplift, controlled environments and secure transit,
reinforcing the importance of hub
performance and downstream connectivity. “In an average week, we uplift 600 tonnes of pharma shipments
compared to an average uplift of 500 tonnes of perishables, which is a clear indication of the evolution of
India into a manufacturing
powerhouse,” Bardan said. “Demand, especially into Europe and the US, remains extremely high, driven by anticipated seasonal trends as well as manufacturing growth in the market. We remain committed to India, scaling our operations and deploying new products to ensure we serve as a partner to Indian-based businesses.” Trade liberalisation has reinforced this trajectory. The UAE–India
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement has reduced friction in bilateral trade, encouraged investment and accelerated cargo flows through Dubai. For air cargo operators, CEPA has strengthened the India–Middle East–Europe corridor, increasing the relevance of hub-and-
s India’s air cargo sector continues to expand despite geopolitical uncertainty, airspace constraints and supply chain volatility, Emirates SkyCargo is reinforcing its long- term commitment to the market. The carrier is aligning capacity,
infrastructure and product development with
spoke models and driving incremental volumes across multiple industry verticals. “The UAE-India CEPA agreement has been a real boost for trade between
the two nations, which Emirates SkyCargo is perfectly positioned to help transport,” Bardan said. “The CEPA is expected to build on the already thriving trade relationship, increasing from US$60 billion to US$100 billion by 2027. On average, we uplift 3,000 tonnes of cargo from Indian gateways every week, and that number continues to grow year on year,.”
Infrastructure, innovation and customer focus India’s airfreight market
is increasingly competitive, with capacity
growth, new entrants and modal alternatives placing pressure on service differentiation. In this environment, Emirates SkyCargo is focusing on network depth, ground-side integration and specialised handling as key competitive levers. Road feeder services play a strategic role in this expansion, allowing
the airline to aggregate cargo from inland markets while maintaining consistent service standards. This model not only supports exporters located away from major airports, but also enhances network efficiency by improving load factors and schedule alignment across long-haul sectors. “Last year, we moved almost 5,500 tonnes of goods via our trucking
network before it boarded an Emirates aircraft,” Bardan said. “We added two new offline destinations, Coimbatore and Goa, via our truck fleet, providing seamless connectivity to global markets. This access significantly contributes to India’s export economy, particularly for SMEs.” Innovation remains central to Emirates SkyCargo’s response to India’s
fast-growing electronics and life sciences sectors. As shipment values rise, risk mitigation, security and compliance are becoming as important as speed. At the same time, pharmaceutical exporters are demanding end- to-end temperature integrity, transparency and global standardisation across handling points. “Throughout 2025, we saw a big increase in shipments of mobile phones
and personal electronic devices from India,” Bardan said. “With Vulnerable, we provide additional protection through strong safety boxes and 24/7 CCTV monitoring throughout the shipment’s journey. Globally, we saw a 30 percent increase in demand for Vulnerable, largely driven by India.” Pharmaceuticals
continue to anchor Emirates SkyCargo’s
“Mumbai and Delhi were among the first three
destinations we launched to.”
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India
strategy, supported by purpose-built facilities designed to meet stringent regulatory and quality requirements. “We built two pharma stations in Mumbai and Bangalore that are
now among the best in the world,” Bardan said. “These facilities offer temperature-controlled zones of two to eight degrees Celsius and 15–25 degrees Celsius for acceptance, build-up, breakdown and storage. What truly sets us apart, both in India and across the globe, is our customer- centric approach to business.”
www.aircargoweek.com 09 FEBRUARY 2026 ACW
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