Hyderabad airport adds 50,000 metric tonnes cargo capacity with new terminal

GMR Hyderabad International Airport has commissioned a new cargo terminal at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, adding 50,000 metric tonnes of annual handling capacity to one of India’s fastest-growing air freight hubs.

The newly launched Cargo Terminal 2 has been designed with dedicated expansion zones that could eventually double its handling capability to 1,00,000 metric tonnes annually, according to details released by the airport operator.

The expansion comes as Hyderabad airport records strong growth in cargo movement, particularly in pharmaceutical exports and international freight volumes.

During FY25, the airport handled 1,68,052 metric tonnes of cargo, marking a 17% year-on-year increase, while international cargo volumes alone rose by 28%.

Pharma cargo becomes central to Hyderabad’s logistics strategy

The most significant feature of the new facility is its dedicated temperature-controlled pharmaceutical cargo zone.

Hyderabad remains one of India’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturing and export centres, making cold-chain reliability increasingly critical for air freight operations.

The airport said the pharma-focused infrastructure has been specifically designed to maintain temperature integrity throughout the cargo handling process.

The facility includes:

• Fully temperature-controlled pharma storage areas
• Continuous monitoring systems
• Advanced temperature cut-off mechanisms
• Dedicated handling zones for perishables and sensitive shipments

The aim is to ensure pharmaceutical and perishable consignments remain within controlled environmental parameters from arrival at the terminal through aircraft loading.

Cold-chain management has historically been one of the more vulnerable stages in pharmaceutical logistics, particularly during air cargo transfers involving multiple handling points.

The new terminal is intended to reduce those risks while strengthening Hyderabad’s position within global pharma supply chains.

New facility built for multiple cargo categories

Beyond pharmaceuticals, the terminal has been designed to process a broad mix of cargo categories including:

• Express shipments
• Perishables
• General cargo
• Export consignments
• Import freight

Spread across 16,864 square metres, the facility includes dedicated inbound and outbound cargo processing zones alongside separate export and import handling areas.

According to PTI, the terminal also incorporates multi-level racking systems designed to optimise vertical storage capacity.

Key infrastructure features inside the terminal include:

• Dedicated build-up and breakdown zones
• Multi-consignment processing capability
• Enhanced airside-landside connectivity
• Dedicated cargo road access
• Upgraded power infrastructure

The build-up and breakdown areas are intended to support simultaneous handling of multiple unit load devices, helping reduce congestion during peak operational periods.

Airport officials expect the layout improvements to accelerate cargo movement efficiency and minimise operational bottlenecks.

Cargo growth reflects changing role of Indian airports

The investment reflects broader changes taking place across India’s airport ecosystem, where cargo operations are becoming increasingly important alongside passenger traffic growth.

Airports are now competing not only as travel hubs but also as integrated logistics and supply-chain infrastructure centres.

For Hyderabad specifically, pharmaceutical exports remain a major growth driver.

The city hosts a large concentration of pharmaceutical manufacturers, vaccine producers and biotech firms, creating strong demand for specialised air cargo handling infrastructure.

As international supply chains increasingly prioritise temperature-sensitive cargo reliability, airports with advanced cold-chain capabilities are gaining strategic importance.

The latest expansion positions Hyderabad more aggressively within that competitive landscape.

GHIAL positions Hyderabad as regional cargo gateway

Kadhir Kadhiravan, Chief Executive Officer of GHIAL, described the terminal launch as a major milestone in the airport’s cargo expansion ambitions.

He said the facility was designed to support “the most demanding cargo verticals” including pharmaceuticals and time-sensitive express shipments requiring high operational precision.

Meanwhile, Sanjiv Edward, Chief Executive Officer of GMR Aero Cargo & Logistics, said the terminal forms part of broader efforts to strengthen India’s air logistics infrastructure.

The project also reflects rising private-sector investment in aviation-linked logistics networks as freight demand continues expanding across both domestic and international markets.

Sustainability and operational efficiency integrated into terminal

The airport operator said sustainability measures were integrated into the facility’s design and operational planning.

According to GHIAL, the terminal incorporates:

• Energy-efficient lighting systems
• Optimised HVAC infrastructure
• Insulated temperature-controlled sections
• Reduced equipment idle-time planning

The company said workflow optimisation has also been introduced to reduce overall energy consumption during cargo operations.

On the safety side, the terminal has been equipped with a multi-layered fire detection and alarm system covering cargo areas, operational infrastructure and personnel zones.

Hyderabad strengthens position in India’s air cargo network

The commissioning of Cargo Terminal 2 arrives at a time when Indian airports are rapidly expanding freight infrastructure to support growing logistics demand.

Rising pharmaceutical exports, e-commerce shipments and time-sensitive international freight are increasing pressure on airports to modernise cargo operations beyond conventional warehousing models.

For Hyderabad, the new terminal strengthens three strategic advantages simultaneously:

• Pharmaceutical export handling
• International cargo connectivity
• Cold-chain logistics infrastructure

The airport’s cargo growth figures suggest those investments are already becoming increasingly important.

As airlines, exporters and logistics providers seek more specialised freight infrastructure, airports capable of handling sensitive cargo efficiently are expected to play a much larger role in regional trade ecosystems.

With Cargo Terminal 2 now operational, Hyderabad is positioning itself not just as a passenger aviation hub, but as a major air logistics gateway for high-value and temperature-sensitive cargo across Asia.