GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. (GHIAL) and Brussels Airport have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen air cargo connectivity between Hyderabad and Europe and explore opportunities for sustained cargo growth.
The collaboration brings together Hyderabad Airport’s expanding cargo capabilities and Brussels Airport’s strong position in the European air cargo ecosystem, creating opportunities to strengthen cargo flows and trade linkages between India and Europe. The MoU will facilitate cooperation in route development, market intelligence, cargo best practices and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on identifying opportunities to enhance Hyderabad’s connectivity with key European markets. The two airports will also work together to assess market demand and commodity flows and develop potential business cases for Hyderabad-Brussels connectivity.
There is currently no direct air connection between the cities of Brussels and Hyderabad, which the agreement hopes to change. Both airports have strong ties to the pharma and life sciences industries and hope the partnership will further develop their capabilities in this sector. Brussels Airport has developed extensive expertise in pharmaceutical logistics, supporting Belgium’s position as the world’s fourth-largest exporter of pharmaceutical products. In 2014, it became the first airport globally to achieve CEIV Pharma certification, the internationally recognised quality standard for the handling and transport of pharmaceutical products, and today offers 45,000 sq m of temperature-controlled storage capacity, home to Europe’s largest concentration of dedicated airport storage facilities. India, meanwhile, is the world’s largest supplier of generic medicines, accounting for approximately 20% of global supply by volume.
Kadhir Kadhiravan, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd., said Hyderabad’s growing economic base and strategic location position it strongly to serve as a gateway for India’s international trade. He said the collaboration with Brussels Airport Company strengthens the airport’s ability to connect Hyderabad with the wider European cargo ecosystem and supports its ambition to build a more globally integrated cargo network, adding that by bringing together market expertise, industry partnerships and complementary strengths, the airports can create new opportunities for businesses in Hyderabad and across the region while strengthening the airport’s role in India’s international trade corridors.
Arnaud Feist, CEO, Brussels Airport, said with this MoU, the two airports are taking an important step to bring their ecosystems closer together, and that by strengthening cargo flows between the regions, they can support trade and economic growth.
