Noida International Airport Launches Cargo Operations: A New Era for Logistics in Northern India
Noida International Airport Begins Cargo Services
Noida: The Noida International Airport (NIA) has officially commenced its freight operations, welcoming its inaugural cargo flight just two days after launching commercial passenger services on June 15.
The first cargo aircraft, a Boeing 737-800F operated by Afcom Holdings, arrived from Chennai and was greeted with a ceremonial water cannon salute at the airport's cargo facility.
The AISATS Multi Modal Cargo Hub (MMCH) at NIA managed the domestic freighter flight at its integrated cargo terminal, transporting nearly 20 tonnes of diverse cargo, including perishables, auto parts, mobile devices, and consolidated shipments.
This development is a significant milestone in positioning NIA as a logistics hub for northern India, enhancing air cargo operations, warehousing, and multimodal connectivity, according to officials.
Ramanathan Rajamani, CEO of AISATS, remarked that the arrival of the first freighter flight signifies a pivotal moment in India's cargo and logistics landscape.
With supply chains becoming more interconnected and time-sensitive, the demand for integrated logistics infrastructure is at an all-time high.
The MMCH has been designed to consolidate cargo handling, warehousing, and multimodal connectivity into a unified platform, facilitating quicker and more efficient goods movement.
Rajamani emphasized that this logistics facility will bolster trade, support businesses throughout northern India, and enhance India's position in global commerce.
Deepak Parsuraman, Chairman and Managing Director of Afcom Holdings, noted that the Chennai-Noida-Chennai freighter service represents a significant achievement for both the company and the national air cargo sector.
Collaborating with AISATS at the Multi Modal Cargo Hub enables them to utilize integrated infrastructure that boosts operational efficiency and reliability.
Christoph Schnellmann, Vice Chairman of Noida International Airport, highlighted that the region's robust manufacturing, electronics, and agricultural sectors necessitate dependable cargo connectivity. This facility will aid businesses by expediting goods movement and improving access to both domestic and international markets.
Shailendra Kumar Bhatia, NIA Nodal Officer and Additional CEO of YEIDA (Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority), stated that the cargo hub, developed by AISATS, includes specialized cold storage areas for temperature-sensitive items like pharmaceuticals, fresh flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
He mentioned that exporters in the nearby YEIDA sectors could transfer cargo from production to the aircraft in less than 30 minutes.
Bhatia also noted that planned rail connections would link NIA with the Delhi-Howrah and Delhi-Mumbai trunk lines, while the airport's closeness to the Western and Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridors would establish it as an intermodal hub integrating air, road, and rail freight.
Salim Chaudhary, COO of AISATS, explained that the cargo hub spans 87 acres, featuring a 30-acre integrated cargo terminal and a 57-acre warehousing and logistics zone.
This facility integrates cargo handling, warehousing, trucking, and digital cargo management systems into a single ecosystem, aimed at reducing transit times and enhancing supply chain efficiency.
Officials indicated that the facility is equipped to manage a wide variety of cargo, including perishables, pharmaceuticals, electronics, engineering goods, e-commerce shipments, and express cargo.