Air India reported a significant increase in fresh produce shipments, moving over 3,300 tonnes between March and May 2026. Mangoes, specifically the Alphonso and Kesar varieties from western India, constituted more than 1,000 tonnes of this total. The strong demand from diaspora communities abroad, coupled with peak harvest yields, fueled this export volume. Mumbai served as the central hub for these perishable exports.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this indicates a consistent and potentially growing air cargo lane for perishables out of India, particularly during seasonal peaks. Understanding Air India's capacity and routing from Mumbai (BOM) for such commodities is crucial for planning and securing space. The focus on specific high-value produce like Alphonso and Kesar mangoes suggests a premium market segment, which might influence pricing and handling requirements. Forwarders should anticipate continued strong demand during future harvest seasons, potentially leading to tighter capacity and higher rates for similar perishable goods on these routes.
