As India’s export economy hits new highs, logistics infrastructure is rising to meet the moment. The latest sign: an additional UPS Boeing 747-8 flight connecting Delhi to Cologne, Germany, effectively doubling the company’s air freight capacity on the route. This move is not just a capacity boost—it’s a signal of India’s growing role in global trade and the expanding appetite for Indian goods in European and American markets.
Backed by strong export demand from sectors like automotive, industrial manufacturing, retail, and healthcare, the new flight enhances access to UPS’s global network. This includes seamless onward connectivity to the United States—India’s largest export market—as well as a robust delivery system across Europe.
“Across Europe and worldwide, there is growing demand for high-quality goods from India from a range of sectors,” said Daniel Carrera, President, UPS Europe, Middle East, Africa & India. “This expansion of our global air network will create new opportunities for European consumers, as well as for Indian businesses looking to export.”
Strengthening Trade Lanes
India’s trade momentum has been extraordinary in recent years, with exports reaching record levels in 2024. This surge is driven by strategic policy reforms, a push for manufacturing competitiveness, and improved access to international markets. Europe, with trade in goods totaling USD 137.41 billion in FY 2023–24, now stands as India’s largest trading partner. And the United States continues to be a cornerstone of India’s export success.
To match the pace of this economic growth, UPS’s expanded service provides a critical link between Indian production hubs and overseas buyers. The additional Delhi-Cologne flight is timed perfectly to capitalize on increasing demand, especially for fast-moving and time-sensitive shipments.
UPS’s Cologne hub acts as a gateway not just to Europe but to a global logistics network that stretches to North America and beyond. From Cologne, shipments connect into UPS’s ground delivery infrastructure—the most extensive in Europe—and further into the United States, where UPS leads the industry in network reach.
Competitive Edge
Indian exporters stand to gain not just from speed, but from increased choice and service flexibility. UPS offers Saturday Standard delivery for residential packages across eight major European markets—without any additional charge. For Indian businesses catering to e-commerce or B2C shipments, this could be a game-changer.
“This additional flight allows us to give Indian businesses of all sizes and industries the fast and reliable service to help them grow and stay competitive,” said Grégory Goba-Blé, Head of UPS India and Director, MOVIN Express. “Thanks to our investments we can make logistics a competitive advantage, offering unmatched choice, convenience, and control.”
For Indian companies, logistics has often been an operational hurdle. Now, with logistics partners enhancing both international and domestic capabilities, the supply chain is becoming an enabler rather than a bottleneck.
MOVIN—a joint venture between UPS and InterGlobe Enterprises—plays a significant role in this transformation. Its growing reach across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities means that even small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in less urbanized areas can access global markets with reliable and timely deliveries.
Infrastructure Investments
India’s logistics capacity is being bolstered on several fronts to keep pace with increasing trade volumes. UPS has recently expanded its Delhi gateway, nearly doubling its processing capacity. This not only enables later pickup cutoff times but also improves service reliability for exporters working on tight production schedules.
Further enhancements include a larger gateway facility in Bengaluru and the launch of a temperature-controlled cross-dock facility in Hyderabad, purpose-built for efficient handling of healthcare shipments—an area of growing importance in Indian exports.
In addition to physical infrastructure, UPS is advancing digital and specialized services. UPS Global Checkout simplifies international e-commerce, offering localised payment options and landed cost calculations for Indian online retailers aiming to go global. UPS Premier, meanwhile, ensures precision for time- and temperature-sensitive healthcare shipments—a vital offering in an increasingly regulated pharmaceutical landscape.
UPS’s presence in India also includes a technology center in Chennai, underscoring the company’s commitment to embedding innovation into its service model in the region.
A Welcome Boost
With India’s capital city acting as a key logistics hub, Delhi’s airport is central to the country’s trade infrastructure. The addition of this UPS flight brings more than just cargo—it brings opportunity.
“We welcome this new capacity at Delhi Airport and are proud to support UPS in delivering vital global connections for Indian businesses to Europe, the United States, and beyond,” said Sanjiv Edward, CEO, GMR Cargo.
