Delhi handled 729,784 tonnes of international air cargo in the 2024-25 financial year, ahead of Mumbai at 654,756 tonnes and Bengaluru at 321,283 tonnes. Bengaluru grew fastest at 21%. Hyderabad handled 98,825 tonnes and carries a significant share of India's pharmaceutical and life sciences volume. Indian airports handled 3.72 million tonnes in total across the year, a record, with international cargo up 14%. Figures are from the Airports Authority of India.

We arrange air freight from India to the UK, mainland Europe, the USA and destinations across Asia Pacific, as well as inbound air freight into India. At destination, shipments can connect directly into Woodland Group’s own network, including our customs and transport operations in the UK, bonded Customs CFS facilities in the USA, AEO-certified bonded warehousing in the Netherlands, and offices across Asia.

Woodland Group serves India through our established partner network at origin, connecting shipments into our own offices, customs teams, warehousing and delivery networks at destination. This gives customers local support in India alongside direct Woodland Group control across key destination markets.

Transit times depend on the origin airport, destination, airline capacity and whether the shipment travels on a direct or connecting service. Indirect routings can offer greater capacity or more competitive rates but introduce additional connection and handling time.

Peak periods, screening requirements, dangerous goods restrictions and seasonal changes in airline schedules can also affect transit times. We assess the available routing options based on the required delivery date, cargo and cost.

Air freight from India is commonly used for pharmaceuticals and healthcare products, textiles and apparel, engineered goods and machinery components, automotive parts, chemicals, perishables and other high-value or time-sensitive cargo.

Air freight is generally most appropriate where speed, product value, shelf life or a fixed delivery deadline outweigh the additional cost compared with ocean freight.

For shipments arriving within our own network, Woodland Group can manage destination customs clearance alongside the freight movement. Our customs capabilities include AEO-authorised operations in the UK and Ireland, bonded Customs CFS facilities in the USA and AEO-certified bonded warehousing in the Netherlands.

Export customs formalities in India are coordinated through our partner network at origin.

Yes. We can arrange collection from suppliers in India through our partner network and move the shipment to the most appropriate departure airport.

The best gateway will depend on the supplier’s location, cargo, available airline services and required transit time. In some cases, using the closest major airport can be more efficient than moving cargo further by road to access an alternative flight.

Yes. Woodland Group supports the movement of pharmaceuticals, healthcare products and other temperature-sensitive cargo from India, with solutions tailored to the product, temperature requirements and route.

Depending on the shipment, this can include temperature-controlled handling, active or passive packaging solutions, priority services and shipment visibility through Woodland Online.

Yes. Woodland Group can arrange air freight for a range of dangerous goods, including lithium batteries, aerosols, paints and chemicals, subject to classification, airline acceptance and applicable IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.

Provide the relevant safety data sheet and shipment details when requesting a quote so that we can confirm the appropriate packing, documentation, routing and aircraft restrictions before the shipment is booked.

The UK–India Free Trade Agreement came into force on 15 July 2026 and introduced preferential tariff treatment for a wide range of goods traded between the two countries.

The agreement does not directly change the cost of air freight, but reduced or eliminated customs duties can lower the overall landed cost of qualifying goods. Preferential treatment must be correctly claimed and the relevant rules of origin and supporting evidence must be met.

Our UK–India trade page provides further information on the agreement and its implications for importers and exporters.

To request an air freight quote from India, provide the collection location, destination, commodity, number of pieces, gross weight, dimensions and required delivery date.

We can then assess the available direct and indirect services and recommend an appropriate routing based on transit time and cost. Accurate dimensions are important because air freight is charged according to either actual or volumetric weight, whichever is greater.