Nikhil Ved, Managing Director, Blue Dart Aviation

India’s only scheduled domestic cargo airline, Blue Dart Aviation, is evaluating the induction of additional freighter aircraft and planning for the eventual replacement of its ageing Boeing 757 fleet as part of its long-term growth strategy, a senior company executive told businessline.

Speaking to businessline on the occasion of the cargo carrier completing 30 years of operations, Nikhil Ved, Managing Director, Blue Dart Aviation, said fleet modernisation remains a “live priority” for the company as it prepares for the next phase of expansion in India’s rapidly growing air cargo market.

“Three years ago, we inducted two Boeing 737-800 freighters, which added payload capacity and greater route flexibility,” Ved said.

“Our Boeing 757-200 fleet has delivered exceptional service, but with an average age close to 30 years, prudent planning requires us to assess renewal along with future additions. We are evaluating further freighter inductions to support both network growth and the eventual replacement of older aircraft,” he added.

Presently, Blue Dart operates a fleet of eight cargo aircraft comprising six Boeing 757-200 freighters and two Boeing 737-800 freighters.

As per the domestic cargo airline, the fleet serves eight destinations every night through more than 56 route connections and provides a payload capacity of over 700 tonnes.

The development assumes significance at a time when dedicated freighter operators globally are grappling with ageing fleets and supply-chain constraints, even as India’s air cargo market continues to witness strong structural growth driven by e-commerce, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing exports.

According to Ved, India currently handles more than 3.26 million tonnes of air cargo annually and is witnessing sustained growth in time-definite freight demand.

He said e-commerce has emerged as Blue Dart’s single-largest business segment, contributing around 30-31 per cent of the parent company’s revenues, followed by banking and financial services, pharmaceuticals, engineering goods and high-value retail.

In 2025, the company handled around 47 million secured parcels, while peak operations witnessed cargo throughput of more than 14,000 tonnes in a single day.

Besides fleet expansion, parent DHL Group has committed approximately €1 billion towards its India businesses through 2030, of which around €250 million has been earmarked for Blue Dart over a five-year period.

Furthermore, Ved said a portion of the investment will be utilised for the maintenance and upkeep of the existing Boeing 757 fleet, while the remaining funds are being channelled towards infrastructure expansion, including the company’s low-emission integrated operating facility at Bijwasan in New Delhi and a new ground hub in Haryana.

“Further fleet investment is being planned as part of this overall envelope,” he added.

Meanwhile, industry estimates suggest India’s air cargo market could witness substantial expansion over the next decade, supported by rising consumption, growth in Tier-II and Tier-III markets, and increasing export-oriented manufacturing activity.

According to estimates cited by the company, India’s air cargo volumes could quadruple over the next 20 years, growing at a compound annual rate of around 7 per cent.

In addition, Ved said dedicated freighter operators would remain indispensable to supporting this growth, noting that belly cargo capacity alone cannot provide the schedule certainty, main-deck availability, and network discipline required by time-sensitive.

Published on June 17, 2026