Air India Express flight IX207 carries the first international cargo shipment out of Navi Mumbai International Airport on 15 July, with 1.79 tonnes of Konkan guava and drumstick moringas bound for Abu Dhabi on a Boeing 737-8 operating the route three times weekly.

© Air India

Ramesh Mamidala, Head of Cargo at Air India, says: “This first export shipment from Navi Mumbai connects growers, traders and businesses in western India directly with one of the region’s most important international markets. Fresh produce is highly time-sensitive, and reliable air connectivity plays a critical role in helping Indian exporters reach global consumers while preserving product quality.” Air India Cargo expects the Navi Mumbai-Abu Dhabi service to move around 25 tonnes of cargo per month, using the aircraft’s approximately 2.5 tonnes of belly-hold capacity per flight.

The guava aboard the flight, known locally as ‘peru’ in Marathi, comes from the Konkan belt, a region recognised for fruit cultivation. Drumstick Moringa, sought after in international markets for its nutritional value, also forms part of the consignment.

The shipment moves through a cold-chain network that keeps produce in temperature-controlled facilities between 15°C and 25°C at origin, uses GDP-certified handling facilities, and transfers consignments into refrigerated environments again upon arrival. Air India Cargo supports these operations with cool dollies and thermal blankets to limit temperature fluctuations between warehouse and aircraft.

Mamidala adds: “The Gulf has long been a strong market for Indian produce. By making additional capacity available from Navi Mumbai, we are creating faster and more efficient pathways for exporters while strengthening India’s agricultural export ecosystem. Every shipment represents the efforts of farmers, traders, freight forwarders and logistics partners, and our role is to connect them to opportunities beyond India’s borders.”

For more information:
Air India
www.airindia.com