RAP is normally connected with modern music. Not for FIATA members, though, who immediately recognize the acronym with Region Asia Pacific, i.e. the regional assembly of the association members of the region. This group is chaired by Yukki Nugrahawan Hanafi, nominated by the Indonesian association member.
     One may wonder what has the title to do with the RAP meeting. Well, we asked AI. It came to assist with this explanation: “In the context of wood, ‘tap’ typically refers to the act of creating a threaded hole in wood using a tap tool. This process allows bolts or screws with matching threads to be easily attached and detached. It can also mean making a hole in a tree trunk to extract sap, like in maple syrup production.”
     The thought process parallel tells you that the recently-concluded FIATA-RAP field meeting at Delhi (May 21-24, 2025) achieved its goals strengthening India’s position in the context of its continental geographic position, putting India on the stage for global dialogue and, more importantly, the fragrant takeaway of the gathering will hopefully spark transformation and engagement with global industry leaders, as it appeared through a series of active discussions on the future of supply chain innovation in the Asia-Pacific region.
     Partnered by the Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI), the 2025 FIATA Region Asia Pacific (RAP) event highlighted India’s growing economic significance on the global stage.  Speaking on the side-lines of the RAP meet, FIATA President Turgut Erkeskin pointed out India’s importance in global trade. India, he said, had become a major player in the global air cargo market. FIATA’s endeavour was to connect and support members and country-based organisations to boost trade. He noted that India had committed to major investments in infrastructure and policy. The country’s manufacturing and consumption had gone up significantly and that had increased the “demand for the air cargo, particularly for high-value, time-sensitive goods such as electronics, pharmaceuticals and perishables.” However, he also emphasised that there were challenges. Erkeskin mentioned that both Mumbai and Delhi airports were saturated and this has led to “delays in cargo handling and increased costs”. He mentioned that the “state-level regulations can complicate operations for air cargo providers” and all this needed attention. Commending the government for “expanding global routes and improving Customs procedures,” the FIATA president highlighted that these moves went a long way to “boost India’s growing role.”
     Speaking about the takeaways from the event, Erkeskin mentioned that he was looking at Indian companies and logistics and cargo professionals create long-lasting relationships. With airport officials from the APAC region taking part, the President hoped to see meaningful “collaborations between airports, airlines, and logistics providers which can lead to efficient operations and resilient supply chains.”
     On his part, ACAAI President C. K. Govil (left) was optimistic about the meeting. He said he had seized the opportunity to invite FIATA representing the global air cargo community to witness the changes taking place in India. “India is emerging as a strong logistics hub,” he said, “boosting the growth of an economy that has remained untouched by the volatility seen in the U.S. and a growing infrastructure.”  He termed the meeting as a “platform to spark transformation” and exhorted emerging companies to “be bold, be innovative, and stay committed to excellence”. If these companies could be agile and “provide digital capabilities, or local detailed insights, larger players would see the value in partnering with them”. He called for stronger collaborations between companies of the APAC region. Collaborations with other Asian nations seem a distinct possibility.

     FIATA plays a crucial role in shaping and understanding trade corridors, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region and President Erkeskin provided the example of the India-Middle East-Europe Trade Corridor which had started taking shape. One of the major initiatives that FIATA was keen to bring in was sustainability: an important issue for the air cargo industry. FIATA, he said was working with stakeholders to push sustainable practices and policy reforms. He said that FIATA would promote innovation in green tech. FIATA would support “environmentally responsible solutions across the supply chain”. The Delhi meeting provided a platform for industry leaders to discuss emerging corridors, technological advancements in forwarding, and policy frameworks. The meeting also focused on identifying regional challenges and potential solutions, fostering collaboration to strengthen logistics networks.
     This short report tells a long story with regard to the essential role of India in the – perhaps – only growing continental economy left at this point in time. Looking forward to hearing better news also from other FIATA regions, we register this evident success and congratulate our friends in India for their organization.
Tirthankar Ghosh/Marco Sorgetti

FlyingTalkers

Delta Cargo & ATC Aviation

     Since Apple airlifted 600 tonnes of iPhones worth $2 billion from India to the U.S. in April, India has emerged as a key hub for global smartphone exports. Reports now indicate that India-made smartphones have overtaken China to hold the top position in export volume. This marks a dramatic rise—from approximately 500 tonnes a month in November 2024 to 2,000 tonnes a month in April 2025. Additionally, India’s leading business daily highlighted that Chinese smartphone companies have begun manufacturing in India, further boosting the sector’s growth.
     India’s air cargo industry is accelerating thanks to stable economic conditions and strategic government policies. In 2024, air cargo from India outpaced the global average, growing by 19 percent compared to the world’s 13 percent, according to the India Air Cargo Outlook 2025-2029 report by Trade Data Service of the Trade and Transport Group, published in January 2025.
The report projects that India’s air cargo will grow annually by 6 to 9 percent over the next five years, reaching between 5 and 5.8 million tonnes by 2029—up from the current 3.7 million tonnes. It states: “Strong expected economic and trade growth is likely to drive additional air cargo volumes over the next five years. We expect the Indian air cargo market to outperform the overall global market.”
     The forecasted eight-fold increase in smartphone exports by 2030 has heightened demand for better cargo-handling infrastructure at international airports. The India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) previously pointed out that Customs delays are hampering shipments. ICEA Chairman Pankaj Mohindroo noted that while China’s factory-to-export process begins from the cargo terminal on Day 1, in India, export activities often start on Day 2. He described this as “a glaring chasm,” especially when considering that Chinese exports in 2023 were worth over $959 billion—more than 30 times India’s $29 billion.
     Mohindroo emphasized the need for infrastructure improvements at both central and state levels. To reach India’s electronics export target of $500 billion by 2030, many airports—some already operating at capacity—must be upgraded or new airports constructed. “By 2030, electronics will be among India’s top two exports (valued at $180–200 billion annually), and air cargo volumes for electronics will surpass those of any other export,” he stated. Data shows that 55 percent of mobile phone exports originate from Delhi, 30 percent from Chennai, and 10 percent from Bangalore. Many industry veterans note that several airports lack dedicated space for cargo operations such as unit load device (ULD) assembly and truck parking. With the monsoon season underway, protecting electronics from water and heat underscores the importance of dedicated, specialized cargo facilities. 
India is also preparing to inaugurate two new world-class Greenfield airports: Noida International Airport near Delhi and Navi Mumbai International Airport near Mumbai.
     Meanwhile, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), which operates Chennai’s international airport where Apple’s iPhones are manufactured, has upgraded its cargo terminal to support electronics exports. Improvements include a dedicated truck corridor, new X-ray scanners, and expanded parking facilities. Delhi Airport, the leading cargo hub, handled 609,419.9 tonnes of international freight from April 2024 to January 2025—a 17.7 percent increase compared to the same period last year. In January 2025 alone, Delhi processed 59,669 tonnes, reflecting a 9.3 percent year-on-year rise.
     The rapid growth of air cargo has prompted industry experts to stress the importance of further infrastructure development. Air cargo has become a vital component of India’s trade and logistics landscape. Most importantly, the government recognizes this sector’s potential and has taken steps to support it. Today, regional airports are increasingly connected to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, facilitating broader trade reach.
     Moreover, the implementation of single-window customs clearance has reduced delays for time-sensitive shipments. The adoption of Cargo Community Systems and trade agreements—such as the Free Trade Agreement with Australia—has also contributed to expanding India’s international trade footprint.

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