Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has emerged as India’s leading hub for perishable cargo. It managed 28% of the country’s total perishable air cargo and 44% of south India’s perishable air exports during 2023-24. This is the fourth consecutive year that KIA dominated the sector, reflecting its critical role in the export of perishable goods including flowers.
According to data accessed by TOI, over the past two years, KIA saw growth in overall cargo volumes, recording a 10% increase from 1.4 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 to 1.5 lakh tonnes in FY 2023-24. This growth trend has continued robustly with cargo exports surging by an average of 30% from Jan to May this year, compared to the same period the previous year.
“Electronics and electrical components have been a substantial part of BIAL’s export profile, with the airport handling over 500 tonnes monthly in FY 24 — a 40% increase over the previous year. This surge in exports is attributed partly to the Red Sea crisis which has heightened the demand for rapid logistics solutions,” said a spokesperson for Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), the operator of KIA.
KIA saw an 18% increase in the export of perishables in 2023-24, totalling 63,188 tonnes. This includes a diverse range of products such as 47,041 tonnes of poultry products, 9,355 tonnes of vegetables, 2,438 tonnes of fresh fruits, 2,050 tonnes of floriculture products, and smaller quantities of fresh mangoes and other perishables.
To handle this diverse array of exports efficiently, KIA is equipped with the largest cargo processing capacity in south and central India, at 7.1 lakh tonnes per annum.
In response to the growing demand and to maintain its competitive edge, BIAL plans to expand cargo handling capacity to over 10 lakh tonnes by the early 2030s. “This will include refurbishing existing cargo terminals, expanding the cold-chain facilities, developing a new domestic cargo terminal, and constructing a Grade A logistics park,” the spokesperson added.
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