- BLR Airport has accounted for 31% of India’s perishable exports
- Emerged as leading Airport in India for poultry products and flower exports
- 24 airlines carried 48,130 Metric Tonnes of perishables to 46 international destinations
Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru has emerged as the No.1 Airport in the Country for perishable shipments. According to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), BLR Airport has processed 48,130 Metric Tonnes of perishables in the Financial Year 2020-21, accounting for 31% of India’s total perishable shipments.
In the process, BLR Airport has emerged as the leading Airport for exports of poultry products and flowers during the same period. It processed 28,182 Metric Tonnes (MT) of poultry products and 1,296 MT of flowers.
The perishables, which also included vegetables and fruits, was carried by 24 airlines to 46 international destinations. Doha was the top destination, followed by Singapore, London and Muscat.
APEDA has been instrumental in engaging with the perishable exporters, understanding their needs and in turn engaging with BLR Airport to ensure the infrastructure capabilities continue to grow with the growing demand for perishables exports globally. They have also been instrumental in the promotion of export-oriented production, improving packaging standards, training in various aspects of perishable industries and assisting perishable exporters with various financial assistance schemes.
“Perishable cargo has been one of the major growth drivers for BLR Airport. Our cargo infrastructure, powered with technology, provides rapid distribution of perishable cargo, making BLR Airport the preferred cargo airport in South India. Our aim is to create an environment that enables our cargo partners to introduce new initiatives and facilities that cater to constantly evolving demand,” said Mr Satyaki Raghunath, Chief Strategy and Development Officer, BIAL.
“In line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision to double the farmers’ income as well as increasing exports, APEDA has initiated several measures to improve agriculture exports from the Country. We are collaborating with airports, exporters and stakeholders to upgrade the cold-chain infrastructure which will further improve in the quality of produce. We are delighted to see that BLR Airport is becoming a preferred cargo airport for agricultural exporters not only from within Karnataka but also from across South India,” said Dr M. Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA.
During the pandemic, BLR Airport facilitated discussions between the trade and statutory bodies from both Government of India (GOI) and the Government of Karnataka in a common forum to discuss the policies and benefits of schemes like Krishi Udaan from GOI for the perishable sector. This resulted in the creation of new markets for farmers, which was essential to ensure that the farm produce could reach consumers in far-flung areas in a timely manner.
Efficient Operations
With its conducive geographic location, aided with robust infrastructure, operated by AI SATS and Menzies Aviation Bobba Bangalore, and adequate airline capacities to key markets globally, BLR Airport has transformed itself as the preferred choice for perishable shipments in India. As a result, growers/shippers from neighbouring states prefer BLR Airport to transport their produce.
Time always plays a critical part in perishable logistics to ensure that products reach their destination while still offering the same freshness, quality and appeal for consumers. BIAL has made key tech-driven interventions to ensure there is no temperature excursion, reduce the handling time and speed up clearance of consignments. All farm-fresh commodities reach their destinations within 24 hours of harvest.
BLR Airport has a dedicated cold zone- AISATS Coolport – with the capacity to handle 40,000 MT per annum and temperature zones ranging from -25 to +25 degrees Centigrade under the same roof. Additionally, Menzies Aviation Bobba Bangalore too has a cold zone, with a capacity of 20,000 MT per annum, and also the capability to handle 20 Unit Load Device (ULD) Pallets from 15 to 25 degrees Centigrade and 2 ULD for 2 to 8 degrees Centigrade.
Currently, 14 dedicated freighters operate to and from BLR Airport, and there is also additional belly capacity in passenger aircraft. On average, BLR Airport has 30-33 daily freighter movements.
The current cargo capacity of BLR Airport is 715,000 Metric Tonnes (MT) annually, which is the largest cargo processing capacity in South India. This is expandable up to 850,000 MT. BIAL aims to expand its cargo infrastructure to provide a capacity of approx. 1.5 Million MT by mid-2030s.
