Ulwe: Five major international cargo airlines, including FedEx and Aerologic (a DHL-Lufthansa joint venture), will begin freighter operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) from May 2026.

The move comes as Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) prepares to suspend all standalone cargo flights from August 1, 2026, for approximately nine months due to airside infrastructure upgrades. Joining FedEx and Aerologic are Challenge Air, Atlas Air, and Teleport, all set to launch freighter services from NMIA.

The shift is part of a broader strategy to position Navi Mumbai as a major cargo hub, leveraging its proximity to Jawaharlal Nehru Port and greater slot availability compared to the congested CSMIA. NMIA, operated by Adani Airports Holding Ltd, is developing a dedicated cargo terminal with a capacity to handle two million tonnes annually.

The facility will include a “coolport” for temperature-sensitive goods, an e-commerce park, bonded storage, and a trucking centre. Discussions with DHL Aviation and FedEx aim to establish NMIA as a point-to-point and transhipment-focused cargo hub for both domestic and international markets. 

The temporary halt at CSMIA has raised concerns among industry bodies like IATA, which warn of potential disruptions to India’s air-cargo reliability. With freighters relocating to NMIA, Navi Mumbai is expected to absorb a significant portion of Mumbai’s cargo volume, though shippers may still face network adjustments until CSMIA resumes operations by mid-2027.