- Hong Kong Air Cargo has launched a weekly round-trip freighter service between Hong Kong and Navi Mumbai International Airport, creating a dedicated cargo link between the two markets.
- The service began on 10 August 2026, only weeks after Aeroprime Group was appointed the airline’s Cargo GSSA for Delhi, underlining the pace of its India expansion.
- The new connection strengthens access for Indian exporters to Hong Kong and onward international markets, while giving Hong Kong Air Cargo an early operating footprint at Navi Mumbai, Western India’s new aviation gateway.
Hong Kong Air Cargo strengthens India footprint with Navi Mumbai freighter link
Hong Kong Air Cargo has expanded its presence in the Indian market with the launch of a dedicated freighter service between Hong Kong International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport, adding a new cargo gateway in Western India to its network.
The weekly round-trip charter service began on 10 August 2026, with the airline operating the route every Monday. According to Hong Kong Air Cargo, the new connection is intended to strengthen trade flows between India and Hong Kong while providing access to onward markets through the carrier’s international network.
The launch represents an important development in the airline’s India strategy, particularly as Navi Mumbai International Airport begins building its role as a major new aviation gateway for the country’s western region.
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Dedicated freighter connection between Hong Kong and Navi Mumbai
Hong Kong Air Cargo is operating the service under flight numbers RH9631 and RH9632.
The outbound flight from Hong Kong departs at 09:00 local time and arrives in Navi Mumbai at 13:20, while the return service leaves Navi Mumbai at 14:50 and reaches Hong Kong at 23:20.
The Monday operation provides a dedicated cargo connection between the two airports, giving freight forwarders and exporters a scheduled weekly option for moving cargo between the markets.
The airline describes the service as part of its strategy of developing tailor-made freighter routes around customer requirements.
Navi Mumbai provides a new cargo gateway
The choice of Navi Mumbai is strategically significant.
The airport is being developed as a major additional aviation gateway for the Mumbai metropolitan region, providing the potential to handle growing passenger and cargo demand alongside existing capacity at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
For Hong Kong Air Cargo, establishing an early freighter presence gives the airline direct access to Western India’s extensive manufacturing, commercial and export base.
It also provides another point of entry into the Indian market beyond the airline’s established network.
Hong Kong Air Cargo’s official network information currently lists Chennai and Delhi among its Indian destinations, alongside a broader international network served with its fleet of six Airbus A330 freighters.
India expansion accelerates
The Navi Mumbai launch follows Hong Kong Air Cargo’s appointment of Aeroprime Group as its Cargo General Sales and Services Agent (GSSA) for Delhi, announced in June.
Under the agreement, Aeroprime is responsible for cargo sales, marketing, customer engagement and business development for Hong Kong Air Cargo’s Delhi operations. The partnership was established to strengthen the airline’s presence in India’s growing air cargo market and improve connectivity between India, Hong Kong and international destinations.
The timing of the Mumbai-area service illustrates how quickly the two companies are moving from commercial representation to network development.
While Aeroprime’s initial appointment focused on Delhi, the wider partnership is now supporting Hong Kong Air Cargo’s expansion into another major Indian cargo market.
Mumbai’s export base creates cargo opportunities
Western India is one of the country’s most important manufacturing and trading regions, with Mumbai and the surrounding industrial belt generating significant volumes of international cargo.
The region supports sectors including pharmaceuticals, engineering, electronics, automotive components, textiles, chemicals, gems and jewellery and e-commerce.
A direct freighter service to Hong Kong provides exporters with an additional option for reaching East Asian markets.
Hong Kong itself remains one of Asia’s major aviation and logistics hubs, offering onward connections to manufacturing and consumption centres across China and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
For Indian exporters, the new service can therefore function not only as a point-to-point connection but also as an access route into a much wider international cargo network.
Hong Kong remains central to the strategy
Hong Kong Air Cargo is positioning Hong Kong as a key connecting point for its expanding India operations.
The airline describes itself as an all-cargo carrier established in Hong Kong in 2017, operating both scheduled and charter services across Asia and other international markets. Its current fleet comprises six Airbus A330 freighters.
The addition of another Indian gateway gives the carrier greater flexibility in serving cargo demand from different regional markets.
The airline has also been expanding its fleet. In January 2026, it received its sixth aircraft, an Airbus A330-200P2F, describing the aircraft as part of its capacity expansion strategy and noting its suitability for a range of regional cargo profiles.
That additional capacity provides a foundation for further network development.
Aeroprime sees Mumbai as a strategic opportunity
Aeroprime Group Executive Director Abhishek Goyal said the speed of the Mumbai expansion reflects the commitment of both organisations to developing Hong Kong Air Cargo’s Indian operations.
He highlighted Mumbai’s importance as a strategic cargo gateway and said the new service would provide customers with greater capacity and connectivity.
For Aeroprime, the development also demonstrates the role of a GSSA in helping an airline translate network ambitions into local commercial opportunities.
Its responsibilities include developing cargo sales, strengthening relationships with freight forwarders and identifying market opportunities for the carrier.
Airline signals further India growth
Hong Kong Air Cargo Vice President, Commercial, Raymond Chen described the Navi Mumbai launch as an important step in the airline’s India growth strategy.
He highlighted Mumbai’s significance as an export market and credited the cooperation with Aeroprime for the rapid progress in developing the new service.
The carrier has also signalled that the Indian market will remain an area of further network development.
Hong Kong Air Cargo’s current strategy is focused on exploring new charter services and scheduled routes while expanding its network and fleet in response to market demand.
Navi Mumbai opens a new chapter for Western India’s air cargo market
The launch comes at an important point in the development of Navi Mumbai International Airport.
By introducing a dedicated freighter operation at an early stage, Hong Kong Air Cargo is positioning itself to participate in the airport’s development as an international cargo gateway.
The new service also adds competition and choice to India’s international air freight market, giving exporters and freight forwarders another option for accessing Hong Kong.
For the airport, attracting dedicated freighter operators can help establish cargo infrastructure and commercial networks alongside the passenger operation.
From Mumbai to global markets
The significance of the new route extends beyond the Hong Kong-Mumbai trade lane.
Hong Kong is one of the world’s major air cargo gateways, and its connectivity gives Indian exporters access to a broad network of international markets.
Cargo moving from Western India can therefore enter Hong Kong’s logistics ecosystem before continuing towards destinations elsewhere in Asia and beyond.
This makes the new Navi Mumbai service particularly relevant for high-value, time-sensitive and export-oriented cargo, where air freight can provide a competitive advantage over longer surface or maritime transportation.
Building a wider Indian network
Hong Kong Air Cargo’s expansion also reflects a broader trend among Asian freighter operators seeking greater access to India’s rapidly developing air cargo market.
India’s manufacturing expansion, growth in pharmaceuticals and electronics, increasing e-commerce activity and rising international trade are creating demand for additional cargo capacity.
For Hong Kong Air Cargo, adding Navi Mumbai to its Indian footprint provides another origin market while complementing its existing operations.
The airline’s official website states that it is continuing to explore new charter flights and scheduled routes and intends to expand its network and fleet in response to market demand.
A strategic route for India-Hong Kong trade
The new Navi Mumbai service gives Hong Kong Air Cargo an early presence at one of India’s newest aviation gateways while providing Western Indian exporters with a dedicated freighter connection to Hong Kong.
It also demonstrates how quickly airline-GSSA partnerships can translate into tangible network expansion when market demand, local commercial expertise and available freighter capacity come together.
With the service now operating weekly, the next phase will be to build cargo volumes, strengthen forwarder relationships and assess opportunities for additional capacity or destinations.
For Hong Kong Air Cargo, the Navi Mumbai operation represents more than a new route: it is another step in establishing a broader and more resilient India-Asia cargo network.
