Balagopal Balachandran, National Head – Air Freight, FEI Cargo said, “India is at a turning point. Emerging trade routes like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) promise faster, cheaper access to Europe, Central Asia, and beyond by offering a vital alternative to traditional maritime routes. Opportunities are clear: Transit times could drop by 40 per cent and logistics costs by nearly 30 per cent. India’s trade with Central Asia has already grown 3.5 times since 2010, reaching $1.7 billion in 2023, led by pharmaceuticals, machinery, and electrical equipment. The EFTA trade deal could attract $100 billion in FDI over 15 years. Global challenges, however, remain. U.S. tariffs imposed in August 2025 on $48.2 billion of Indian goods have slashed exports by 37.5 per cent, hitting textiles, gems jewellery , pharma etc . These hurdles highlight the need to diversify—Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia are emerging as key markets. The road ahead isn’t easy. Infrastructure, digital connectivity, geopolitical tensions, and regulatory hurdles all demand careful navigation. Yet, India’s position in Eurasian corridors underscores a simple truth: opportunities favour the prepared ones . By staying resilient, adapting to changing markets, and broadening trade partnerships, India can turn challenges into growth engines by strengthening its global influence and paving the way for sustainable economic progress.”

Sunil Kohli, MD, Rahat Cargo said, “The Eurasian trade routes will benefit India by reducing logistics cost and transit time while expanding global market access thereby creating new opportunities for Indian exporters specially the MSMEs. An economic and accelerated penetration into European and Eurasian markets are expected to improve the competitiveness of Indian products such as pharmaceuticals, engineering goods and textiles. The project like India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) will attract considerable FDIs into India’s transportations, logistics and industrial sectors. The advantages may also include by developing ports and logistics centres along new routes which will enhance local economic activities by creating industrial parks and spur job creation in construction and related industries. Therefore, the proposed new routes may lead to achieving an overall benefit for the cargo trade.”

Kamal Jain, Director, Cargomen Logistics said, “India’s focus on building new trade routes across Europe and Asia is a smart step in today’s uncertain world. It helps India expand its trade, improve energy security, and connect better with growing Eurasian economies. Though there are challenges like political tensions and global trade ups and downs, India aims to use these routes to grow steadily, reduce reliance on old partners, and reach new markets. However, this positive approach needs careful handling of global politics and quick adaptation to changes. India’s efforts in signing trade agreements and investing in infrastructure show its strong commitment to making the most of the Eurasian route despite the risks.”  

C K Govil, CMD, Activair Airfreight says, “As global trade faces rising protectionism, logistics costs and supply chain volatility, India’s push to diversify its trade routes is both timely and strategic. The Eurasian Corridor — linking South Asia, Central Asia, and Europe offers an alternative to traditional maritime routes through the Suez Canal, cutting transit times to Europe by up to 40 per cent and expanding access to new markets. Through initiatives such as the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Chabahar Port project, India is deepening regional integration across sea, rail, and road networks. Air cargo and digital trade systems will be critical in bridging infrastructure gaps and ensuring reliability. Yet, geopolitical risks, regulatory inconsistencies, and limited experience among smaller exporters remain key challenges. Success will depend on coordinated policy, infrastructure investment, and industry collaboration. If executed well, the Eurasian Route could become a cornerstone of India’s trade resilience, complementing traditional sea and air corridors while positioning India at the center of a more connected Eurasian marketplace.

Central Airlines has strengthened its international cargo capabilities with the addition of a Boeing 777 Freighter. The China-based carrier, headquartered at Haikou Meilan International Airport in Hainan, received the leased aircraft this month as part of its ongoing fleet expansion strategy. With this latest addition, Central Airlines’ fleet now includes two Boeing 737-300 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) aircraft, four 737-800P2Fs, and six 777Fs. Tie Gong, Head of Network and Planning at Central Airlines, highlighted the aircraft’s significance in a recent LinkedIn post, “The Boeing 777F brings modern efficiency, extended range, and proven reliability — qualities that perfectly align with KTW’s role as a 24/7 cargo hub at the heart of Europe.” The move underscores Central Airlines’ commitment to expanding its long-haul cargo operations and strengthening its presence in the global air freight market.

Samir J Shah, President, ACAAI said, ” ACAAI is an old association with a wonderful legacy of serving its members, the airlines, and other stakeholders, while actively participating in policy discussions with the Government of India. There is so much happening in logistics—especially in air cargo—with new airports coming up, emerging challenges, and evolving regulations. ACAAI will strengthen its outreach with all stakeholders, particularly the government, airlines, and custodians. I am fortunate to have a wonderful team of Managing Committee members, a highly capable secretariat, and very experienced advisors to support me on this journey. We will increase our interaction with the Government and other stakeholders, as continual dialogue will benefit the entire industry. We also plan to release a few white papers on topics of current relevance and work towards setting up our own training institute to equip member personnel with necessary skills across all related areas, including DG regulations.”

Activair Airfreight India was honoured with the Excellence in Global Air Freight award at the recently concluded India Cargo Awards held in New Delhi. This recognition highlights the company’s consistent efforts in delivering reliable, efficient, and customer-focused air freight solutions across global markets. With a strong emphasis on innovation, timely delivery, and operational excellence, Activair Airfreight India continues to strengthen its position as a trusted logistics partner for international trade.  

Driven by surging demand in Delhi-NCR, India’s industrial and logistics leasing activity across the top eight cities has hit an all-time high — reaching 37 million sq ft during the January–September period of 2025. This marks a robust 28 per cent year-on-year increase, up from 28.8 million sq ft during the same period in 2024, according to the latest report from real estate consultancy CBRE. Among the eight major cities — Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad — the Delhi-NCR market emerged as the front-runner, accounting for the lion’s share of leasing activity at 11.7 million sq ft. Bengaluru followed with 5.7 million sq ft, while Hyderabad rounded out the top three with 4.6 million sq ft. Together, these three cities comprised a commanding 59% of the total leasing volume. Other notable performances came from Mumbai and Kolkata, with space take-ups of 4.2 million sq ft and 3.8 million sq ft, respectively, signaling sustained growth in tier-I logistics hubs, said CBRE.  

GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL) was presented the Fastest Growing Air Cargo Airport Award at the recent India Cargo Awards 2025 in New Delhi. It was recognised for its outstanding performance and rapid growth in the air cargo sector. The airport has consistently demonstrated excellence in cargo handling, operational efficiency, and customer service, making GHIAL a key hub for domestic and international freight. With strategic infrastructure, state-of-the-art facilities, and strong connectivity, the airport continues to support India’s ambition of becoming a global logistics and trade hub, setting benchmarks for efficiency and innovation in the industry.

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP) and FedEx Logistics have reached a pact to collaborate on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) usage, marking a significant step toward greener air cargo operations. According to AFKLMP, the SAF participation agreement will enable FedEx Logistics to explore a book-and-claim programme, giving its freight forwarding customers access to the environmental benefits associated with the physical SAF used by AFKLMP. The partnership, recently celebrated with key teams in Hong Kong, demonstrates how industry collaboration can accelerate SAF adoption across the supply chain and help forwarders achieve their sustainability goals, reflecting the growing focus on decarbonisation in global logistics.