BLR Airport records 26-month-high cargo throughput of 34,339 MT in Oct

November 25, 2020: Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR Airport/ KIAB) in October 2020 recorded a 26-month high cargo tonnage of 34,339 metric tonnes, the highest-ever domestic outbound tonnage of 8,117 MT, largely driven by e-commerce shipments and highest domestic inbound cargo since November 2019 of 6,595 MT.

After becoming the first airport in India to record positive growth in September 2020, the trend continued in October 2020 as well, registering a 0.1 percent increase against October 2019.

In a virtual press brief held today, Satyaki Raghunath, chief strategy & development officer, BIAL, said, “We plan to increase the annual cargo capacity of BIAL to the range of 750,000 to 850,000 tonnes in the next five to six years and then to a million metric tonnes in 10- 15 years. We will have 30 percent of all pharmaceutical cargo of south India moving through Bengaluru airport.”

Perishable commodities, which have been the major growth driver for BLR Airport in FY 2020-21, continued to be the top international commodity, accounting for 12 percent of total exports in October. Doha emerged as the top destination in October 2020, with 1,095 MT.

“The surge in e-commerce cargo in October could be understood as it is the festive season going on. Perishables commodities have started to become very important for KIAB. We are actively engaging with the agricultural ministry and the ministry of civil aviation to enable movement of agricultural goods,” Satyaki added.

During the lockdown period from March to May, BIAL's share of the total cargo throughput across all Indian airports increased to 14 percent compared to 11 percent for the same period last year.

“We have also set records of maximum cargo processed on a single day with 1,359 MT on October 22, 2020, and highest single-day air traffic movement (ATM) with 52 freighter aircraft on the same day,” he added.

Furthur, the airport is planning to open India’s first export cargo terminal in the next two months.

“In order to enable ease of doing business, Bengaluru airport has opened the first public bonded 10,000 sq ft warehouse inside the airport. This will enable re-export of goods, long term storage of bonded cargo without extra duties, assist partial clearances and allow repacking and relabeling,” continued Satyaki.

Also, the airport is in a process of implementing air cargo community system which will bring all stakeholders in the ecosystem together, eliminate paperwork and duplication of information.