Team Blitz India
MUMBAI: The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai made exceptional achievements in handling both passenger traffic and cargo operations in 2023, solidifying its position as a global traffic and cargo gateway.
The airport recorded a 105 per cent increase in passenger movement with 44 million passengers availing the airport service in 2022-23 compared to 21.7 million in the corresponding period last fiscal. Air traffic movement also increased by 56 per cent, from 1.86 lakh flights in FY2022 to 2.90 lakh flights in FY2023. CSMIA connects with a comprehensive network of 600 international and 65 domestic cargo destinations.
The total cargo handled in 2023 coupled with a 12 per cent year-on-year growth in the total number of cargo ATMs cemented CSMIA’s position as a key enabler to the global supply chain.
Pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, automobiles, e-commerce, and perishables were major types of goods handled by CSMIA’s cargo facility. Top three product categories in exports, which comprised 55 per cent of the total cargo volume, were automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural cargo.
On the domestic front, top categories were consol cargo, pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, and post office mail. The e-commerce boom significantly influenced cargo operations. The festive season of 2023 registered 87 per cent YOY growth of e-commerce shipments. Agricultural products also experienced a notable YOY growth of 44 per cent.
In a groundbreaking feat, CSMIA also successfully managed its inaugural consignment of frozen ready-toserve food products, such as idli and vada, through specialised va-q-tec containers to Amsterdam.
London, Frankfurt, Dubai, Chicago, and Amsterdam emerged as the top five destinations receiving cargo from CSMIA, while on the domestic front, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad were top cities. Notably, Emirates, Qatar, and Cathay Pacific, among the international airlines, along with Indigo, Blue Dart, and Air India as domestic carriers, emerged on the forefront of handling the highest cargo volumes at CSMIA.
