

FedEx, DHL JV to fly cargo from Navi Mumbai ahead of Mumbai freighter shutdown
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Five foreign freighters, including FedEx and a DHL joint venture, are expected to begin operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), from May, two cargo officials familiar with the matter told Mint. This comes nearly three months before cargo-carrying planes temporarily cease operations at Mumbai International Airport from 1 August.
Apart from FedEx, Challenge Air, Aerologic—a joint venture between DHL and Lufthansa Cargo—Atlas Air and Teleport will be starting freighter flights. A freighter aircraft, also called a cargo plane, is an aircraft that carries goods instead of passengers. Emails sent to FedEx, Challenge Air, DHL, Lufthansa Cargo, Atlas Air and Teleport on Monday remained unanswered.
NMIA did not respond to Mint’s emails or phone calls seeking comment. The Navi Mumbai International Airport, which started operations in December last year, is expected to handle the freighter operations as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai begins major runway, taxiway and apron repairs to support future operations. Apron G, used exclusively for freighters, will be completely rebuilt from August 2026 to May 2027, requiring a temporary closure.
This raised concerns among industry body Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI), which warned that exporters may reroute air cargo through Delhi or Bengaluru as the new Navi Mumbai airport is yet to start international passenger operations, Mint reported on 30 December 2025. NMIA is operated by Adani Airports Holding Ltd, part of billionaire Gautam Adani’s airport business, which has said that international passenger flights are expected to begin by the first quarter of FY27. ACAAI has flagged that the
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