Hyderabad Airport Achieves 22% Cargo Growth in 2024

Hyderabad, March 3 (NationPress) The Hyderabad International Airport has achieved a remarkable 22% increase in cargo traffic during the year 2024.

The airport managed 180,914 tonnes of cargo, reflecting a 22% rise compared to the previous year.

According to the airport operator, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL), this impressive performance was fueled by a 36% surge in international cargo, totaling 108,520 tonnes, and a 5% growth in domestic cargo, reaching 72,395 tonnes.

Hyderabad Airport has established itself as a top facility for handling high-value pharmaceutical cargo in India and has experienced significant growth in the movement of electrical and electronic items, as well as engineering goods over the past year.

Pradeep Panicker, CEO of GHIAL, emphasized their commitment to developing world-class infrastructure, optimizing processes, and increasing capacity to cater to diverse cargo requirements.

Hyderabad's cargo operations maintained their growth trajectory, connecting to more than 20 international destinations through a strong network of passenger and freighter flights.

The airport has facilitated exports to leading global markets, with high-value pharmaceutical shipments constituting 72% of total exports. The US and Europe remain the primary export regions, contributing 51% of total exports from Hyderabad.

GHIAL reported the establishment of a direct link to the African market, with Ethiopian Airlines providing two weekly freighter services between Hyderabad and Addis Ababa.

In late October 2024, Lufthansa Cargo began operating its own Boeing 777F freighters from Hyderabad, enhancing direct cargo operations in the Indian market. Additionally, the frequency of passenger flights increased from five to six per week.

Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines are also operating scheduled freighter services to their respective hubs (Doha and Istanbul) using wide-body freighters.

Qatar Airways plans to increase its freighter service frequency on the Hyderabad-Doha route from two to three weekly flights starting February 2025, citing the growing potential at Hyderabad.

Exports from Hyderabad Airport reached destinations across the globe, including the US, Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Australia, and China.

The cargo infrastructure at Hyderabad is undergoing substantial expansion to meet increasing demand.

The existing Cargo Terminal 1 is being enhanced and will include a state-of-the-art domestic terminal, an international courier/express terminal, and a dedicated export perishables terminal upon completion.

The construction of the new Cargo Terminal 2 is also underway, with Phase 1 expected to be operational this year, significantly boosting overall handling capacity.

To further assist the cargo community, an additional 20,000 square feet of warehousing space is being developed within the RGIA Cargo Village, enhancing the airport's logistics capabilities.