Air cargo operations at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru continued their steady upward trajectory in FY 2025–26, recording a 6% year-on-year growth in total freight volumes to 532,000 metric tonnes, underpinned by sustained export demand, expanding international connectivity, and capacity enhancements across its logistics ecosystem.
The growth reflects a balanced recovery across key cargo segments, with strong contributions from perishables, pharmaceuticals, automotive components, electronics, and cross-border e-commerce shipments. The airport’s expanding airline network—comprising 15 cargo carriers operating across 38 global destinations—continues to reinforce Bengaluru’s position as a key southern India airfreight gateway connecting to major hubs including Chicago, Singapore, London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.
Perishables Continue to Anchor Cargo Growth
Perishable cargo remained the standout segment in FY26, consolidating Bengaluru airport’s position as India’s leading hub for temperature-sensitive agricultural exports for the fifth consecutive year.
Among horticultural exports, rose shipments recorded particularly strong performance, with approximately 60 million stems handled during the year. Volumes increased by 38% year-on-year, while tonnage rose sharply by 64%, reflecting both higher export demand and improved handling efficiencies within the airport’s cold chain infrastructure.
Mango exports also registered a 12% increase, reaching a five-year high, supported by strong international demand and improved export logistics coordination during the peak season. Coriander exports further expanded by 13% year-on-year, highlighting growing diversification within India’s fresh produce export basket.
Industry stakeholders attribute this sustained growth to improved farm-to-airport integration, better temperature-controlled handling facilities, and increasing adoption of export-grade packaging and pre-cooling standards across supply chains in Karnataka and neighbouring horticultural regions.
Diversified Cargo Mix Supports Stability
Beyond perishables, Bengaluru’s cargo growth was supported by consistent flows across multiple high-value sectors. Pharmaceutical shipments continued to benefit from India’s expanding life sciences export base, while automotive and engineering spare parts maintained steady volumes linked to global manufacturing supply chains.
Electronics shipments and cross-border e-commerce also contributed to overall throughput, reflecting Bengaluru’s role as a growing technology and services export hub. The diversified cargo mix has helped cushion volatility in individual sectors, ensuring stable year-on-year growth despite global airfreight market fluctuations.
Expanding Network Connectivity Enhances Trade Flows
The airport’s cargo performance has been closely supported by expanding international connectivity, with freighter and bellyhold capacity linking Bengaluru to key global demand centres. The presence of 15 dedicated cargo airlines has enabled greater frequency and routing flexibility, particularly for time-sensitive and temperature-controlled shipments.
Strategic connections to major transshipment hubs in Asia, Europe, and North America continue to play a critical role in facilitating export flows, particularly for perishables requiring rapid distribution into retail and wholesale markets.
Logistics Infrastructure Expansion Strengthens Capacity
A key enabler of recent growth has been the commissioning of the AISATS BLR Logistics Park, which has significantly enhanced cargo handling capacity and operational efficiency at the airport.
The integrated logistics facility has improved warehousing availability, streamlined cargo processing, and strengthened cold chain continuity for export-oriented shipments. Its development aligns with broader efforts to position Bengaluru as a multimodal logistics hub supporting both domestic distribution and international trade.
Structural Positioning as a Perishables Gateway
Bengaluru airport’s continued leadership in perishable exports underscores its growing structural importance within India’s air cargo ecosystem. The combination of horticultural production strength in southern India, proximity to export clusters, and dedicated cold chain infrastructure has enabled the airport to maintain a dominant position in high-value fresh produce logistics.
This leadership is increasingly significant as global demand for fresh fruits, flowers, and herbs continues to expand, particularly in Europe, the Middle East, and North America, where demand for premium-quality, air-freighted perishables remains strong.
Outlook: Capacity Expansion and Network Deepening
Airport authorities indicate that sustained cargo growth is expected to continue, supported by ongoing infrastructure investments, expanded airline partnerships, and increasing export diversification across sectors.
Future growth is expected to be driven by further integration of digital cargo systems, expansion of cold chain infrastructure, and enhanced global connectivity aimed at reducing transit times and improving supply chain reliability.
As global air cargo markets continue to evolve, Bengaluru’s position as a key export gateway for perishables and high-value goods is expected to strengthen further, supported by both structural demand trends and continued infrastructure development.
