When India and Afghanistan agreed to restart dedicated air freight connectivity between Kabul and India—specifically Delhi and Amritsar—the announcement spoke of trade normalisation. For the air cargo sector, the bigger story is operational: can Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ) handle a surge in cargo volumes?
The Kabul–Delhi and Kabul–Amritsar corridors are formally activated, with cargo operations set to begin once Afghan procedures are ready.
Why Amritsar matters
ATQ is well-placed to become India’s main intake point for Afghan perishables and a rapid-response export hub for north India. The airport’s location shortens inland distribution and consolidation, offering Afghan exporters faster access to Indian markets. But the airport’s current infrastructure prioritises passengers over cargo, making operational readiness the critical bottleneck.
The real test
The corridor’s importance isn’t just about flights resuming—it’s about predictable trade flows. India and Afghanistan have strengthened bilateral trade mechanisms, giving shippers confidence to commit volumes and carriers a reason to schedule rotations instead of relying on one-off charters.
Afghanistan’s exports—fresh fruits, dried fruits, nuts, saffron—are highly perishable. India’s exports—pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, processed foods—demand reliability. For both sides, air freight isn’t optional: delays directly affect pricing, wastage, and buyer trust. ATQ’s strategic advantage depends entirely on handling these shipments consistently.
Perishables give Amritsar an edge
Time-to-market is decisive for pomegranates, cherries, grapes, and saffron. For such shipments, speed and handling matter more than scale. ATQ doesn’t need to become a mega hub; it needs to guarantee tight acceptance windows, priority screening, dependable cold-chain, and minimal terminal dwell. Doing so will make it a preferred gateway for north India.
Fixes that matter
ATQ’s challenges don’t require a full-scale rebuild. Most improvements come from process changes:
Time-window management – separate perishables, express, and essential supplies to protect flight cut-offs.
Temporary staging zones – modular build-up spaces reduce congestion and speed up cargo unitisation.
Peak-period screening planning – treat predictable peaks as part of operational design to avoid queues.
Digital pre-clearance – pre-arrival document checks and integrated broker coordination cut dwell time.
Flexible ground handling – scale labour and equipment during seasonal peaks to avoid operational collapse.
The corridor will reward consistency
For airlines, the corridor succeeds only if it delivers repeatable loads at predictable yields. For forwarders, early execution matters: once shippers adjust trucking, warehousing, and export filing patterns, behaviours stick. ATQ has a narrow window to prove itself as a reliable hub.
A model for non-metro gateways
The Kabul–Amritsar route is more than a flight path; it’s a test of India’s ability to scale non-metro airports when trade corridors shift. With faster processing, reliable cold-chain, and predictable uplift, ATQ can help distribute cargo demand evenly and strengthen trade resilience.
The winner won’t be determined by announcements but by how quickly cargo moves from acceptance to uplift—and how confidently exporters can rely on the airport’s performance. In air freight, credibility is built on throughput. ATQ is now being asked to deliver.
The post Kabul–India airfreight: From policy to performance appeared first on Air Cargo Week.
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Author: Ajinkya Gurav
