Noida: Two days after Noida International Airport began commercial flight operations, a Boeing 737-800F cargo flight from Chennai landed at 7:13 am on Wednesday, marking the start of freight operations at its dedicated cargo terminal. The aircraft carried 20 tonnes of mixed cargo, including perishables, auto components, and mobile devices, and received a ceremonial water-cannon salute upon landing. It returned to Chennai around 12:15 pm with cargo, including automobile and motor parts from Noida industries.
Cargo Terminal Features
The cargo terminal, developed by Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Ltd (AISATS), spans 87 acres, comprising a 30-acre integrated cargo terminal and a 57-acre warehousing and logistics zone. It has a capacity to handle 2,55,000 tonnes of cargo. The terminal’s proximity to YEIDA sectors is expected to allow exporters to move cargo from the factory floor to the aircraft hold in under 30 minutes. Proposed rail spurs are set to connect the terminal with the Delhi-Howrah and Delhi-Mumbai railway lines. The airport’s proximity to the Western and Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridors would also make it an intermodal hub integrating air, road, and rail freight, officials said.
Initial Cargo Consignments
Until Wednesday, the terminal has received consignments of garments, auto parts, mobile phones, and handicrafts for dispatch to other cities. It also received nearly 4,000 kg of litchis from Pathankot over the past two days for onward shipment to Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. Sonu, operations supervisor at Surya Cargo Forwarders, a logistics intermediary handling the shipment, said the litchis were brought to the airport for air transport. “We brought the harvest in cartons to Noida airport and marked and labelled the consignment to ensure it was loaded onto designated routes and flights. On Wednesday, we handed over the remaining cargo to AISATS staff, who will now transfer it to the respective airlines,” he said. A large consignment of the fruit was dispatched to Chennai on a passenger flight earlier in the day.
Facilities and Future Plans
The cargo terminal also includes a courier facility for express and e-commerce shipments, a coolport for pharmaceutical and temperature-sensitive products, such as pharmaceuticals, fresh flowers, fruits, and vegetables. It also has a rental warehouse and a trucking centre. AISATS chief operations officer Salim Chaudhary said cargo services would soon connect to all metro cities, with international operations planned within six months. “Noida Airport’s cargo operations will help in decongesting IGIA,” he said. Cargo services at the airport are being operated by Afcom Holdings. Its chairman and managing director, Deepak Parsuraman, told TOI that the Chennai-Noida journey took 2 hours and 27 minutes. “The successful completion of the Chennai-Noida-Chennai freighter flight marks an important milestone not only for the company but for the evolution of India’s air cargo ecosystem,” Parsuraman, who also flew the first freighter in, said.
Regional Impact
NIAL nodal officer Shailendra Bhatia said Noida was a major hub for IT, electronics, and mobile manufacturing. “Cargo activities are expected to pick up over the next few months, so we have made separate entry routes for passenger and cargo traffic at the airport,” he said. NIA vice-chairman Christoph Schnellmann said the region’s strong manufacturing, electronics, and agricultural sectors require efficient and reliable cargo connectivity. “The facility will help support businesses by enabling faster movement of goods and strengthening access to domestic and global markets,” he added.
