IndiGo CarGo to operate regular international freighter from NMI

Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) will handle its first international dedicated freighter operation tonight (1 August), with IndiGo CarGo's freighter departing for Sharjah at 10 p.m. IST. The aircraft, an Airbus A321-211 (P2F), tail number VT-IKX, arrived at NMI from Bengaluru at 9:26 a.m. today. It is operating on a Bengaluru–Navi Mumbai–Sharjah–Delhi (BLR–NMI–SHJ–DEL) routing. Tonight’s flight marks another step in NMI’s cargo development, following the airport's launch of international cargo operations via passenger belly capacity

Mark Sutch, Head of International Development and Chief Commercial Officer – Cargo at IndiGo, told The STAT Trade Times that the NMI–SHJ freighter operation will be a regular service, operating as a non-scheduled service. He said tonight's flight will carry a mix of general cargo and perishables.

Previously, on July 15, NMI handled its first international cargo movement when 1,789 kg of fruits and vegetables were airlifted to Abu Dhabi on Air India Express flight IX207. The shipment was carried on the scheduled passenger service. According to Air India Express' schedule, IX207 operates twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Fridays, departing NMI at 2:55 a.m. The return service, IX208, arrives at NMI from Abu Dhabi at 10:20 a.m. The inaugural July 15 service was operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, while the Friday rotation was scheduled with an Airbus A320neo. The first return service from Abu Dhabi to NMI did not carry cargo.

The IndiGo CarGo operation comes as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) prepares for the temporary suspension of dedicated freighter operations to facilitate infrastructure works. Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has planned the suspension from August 2026 through May 2027. The works include upgrades to the airport's runway and taxiway infrastructure and reconstruction of the dedicated freighter apron.

With dedicated freighter operations at CSMIA affected during the works, NMI is emerging as an alternative operating base for cargo carriers serving the Mumbai market. Cathay Cargo has already announced plans to temporarily shift its Mumbai freighter operations from CSMIA to NMI. The carrier's existing tri-weekly summer-season freighter service is scheduled to operate from NMI during the transition.

NMI is also gaining new international freighter connectivity through Hong Kong Air Cargo, which will commence weekly round-trip charter flights between Hong Kong (HKG) and Navi Mumbai (NMI) from August 10, 2026, operating every Monday. The Hong Kong-based carrier announced the service as an early footprint at Western India's newest aviation hub. The new connection will strengthen its regional network while creating a direct trade lane between East and South Asia.

Flight RH9631 will depart Hong Kong at 9:00 a.m. and arrive at NMI at 1:20 p.m. local time. The return service, RH9632, will depart NMI at 2:50 p.m. and arrive in Hong Kong at 11:20 p.m. Both services will operate weekly on Mondays. Hong Kong Air Cargo has operated as an all-cargo carrier from Hong Kong since 2017, offering charter and scheduled services. The airline operates a fleet of six Airbus A330 freighters, serving destinations including Amman, Bangkok, Budapest, Chennai, Delhi, Dhaka, Hanoi, Istanbul, Manila, Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei. The Hong Kong service will make NMI the carrier's third Indian gateway, after Chennai and Delhi, adding another international freighter operator to the airport's developing cargo network.

Other international carriers are also evaluating NMI as an alternative to CSMIA during the infrastructure programme. Air France, which operates two weekly freighter services between Paris and Mumbai, has indicated that its cargo operations could shift to NMI, subject to approvals. Lufthansa Cargo has also been in discussions with authorities and stakeholders regarding its operating plans. The developments are giving NMI an opportunity to build an international freighter network while accommodating operations displaced from CSMIA.

The airport has dedicated cargo infrastructure for international and domestic shipments, including facilities for pharmaceuticals, perishables, valuable cargo and other time-sensitive commodities. Its cargo development is also being supported by long-term investments, including FedEx's planned 300,000-square-foot automated air cargo hub.

IIndiGo’s scheduled departure to Sharjah tonight therefore marks an important milestone for NMI. Following the airport’s first international belly cargo movement in July, this BLR–NMI–SHJ–DEL operation marks NMI’s move into dedicated international freighter operations, as airlines begin building a wider cargo network around the airport.

This article was originally published on The STAT Trade Times.