Kempegowda and Frankfurt airports sign MoU to enhance cargo connectivity

Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BLR ) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to enhance cargo connectivity between South India and Europe.

The collaboration brings together two key cargo gateways, BLR, serving one of India’s fastest-growing manufacturing and export regions, and Frankfurt Airport, one of Europe’s most connected cargo hubs.

Under the terms of the MoU, both airports aim to establish a structured framework focused on joint trade lane analytics, digital corridor development, pharma integrity standards and knowledge exchange to improve visibility, reduce dwell times and deliver more predictable service levels for cargo stakeholders.

Girish Nair, chief operating officer of BLR operator Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), said: “This partnership reflects a strategic shift toward building more integrated and data-led cargo corridors between India and Europe.

“As BLR Airport continues to invest in cargo infrastructure, technology and capability development, collaborations like this help translate those investments into efficient, scalable trade lanes that support the movement of high-value and time-sensitive cargo.

“Our focus remains on building a resilient and future-ready ecosystem that can adapt to evolving trade dynamics, and regulatory expectations to create long-term value for airlines, freight forwarders and trade partners.”

From Frankfurt Airport’s perspective, Fraport’s senior executive vice president for aviation, Alexander Laukenmann, noted: “The partnership with BLR represents the creation of a robust bridge between two key cargo and economic hubs that will unlock new opportunities for businesses and serve as a major driver for the future of international goods traffic.

“In line with the motto ‘Creating the Future of Cargo. Together’, we’re focusing on partnership-driven innovation. We want to create optimal conditions for our customers and the entire cargo community. Our partnership is a key pillar of our Frankfurt CargoHub Masterplan and underlines our ambition to actively shape international air cargo traffic.”

The partnership comes at a time when the recently concluded EU–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to unlock new momentum for bilateral trade and air cargo flows.

As trade volumes between India and Europe scale, efficient and reliable cargo corridors will play a critical role in enabling faster market access and strengthening supply chain resilience.