The initiative is designed to reduce cargo transit time, handling costs and congestion by allowing secured transshipment cargo to move through dedicated facilities without mandatory re-screening, subject to prescribed security safeguards. Since the pilot began on June 20, around 280 metric tonnes of cargo has been transshipped through Delhi, while aircraft capacity utilisation rose from 75 per cent to nearly 100 per cent. The reform reduced transit time on the Chennai-Delhi-Frankfurt route from about 60 hours to 20 hours.

Naidu said the government aims to triple India’s air cargo volume by 2030 and develop the country into a global air cargo transshipment hub. He highlighted the benefits of faster cargo movement for farmers and exporters, particularly those dealing in perishable agricultural products. The government plans to further expand the network and introduce International-to-International and International-to-Domestic transshipment, strengthening India’s position as a competitive global aviation hub.

Naidu also shared that Andhra Pradesh is set to become a hub for aviation training and innovation, with four flight-training organizations arriving in the state, alongside the establishment of an MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) ecosystem and an aviation skilling university in Visakhapatnam. The state’s ambitious plans include expanding the drone sector by creating a dedicated drone city, as well as advancing aerospace and aircraft manufacturing industries, underscoring its strategic focus on becoming a key player in India’s aerospace future.