Daily News Blog

Adani Airports halts Russia-bound cargo processing, 150 tonnes of air freight held up

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Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) has stopped processing export cargo bound for Russia, leaving around 150 tonnes of shipments stranded for nearly 10 days and creating disruption on the India-Russia air cargo trade lane.

The affected cargo, comprising mainly pharmaceuticals, machinery and spare parts, is awaiting clearance. AAHL operates eight airports, including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

The shipments include cargo booked on Russian national carrier Aeroflot and non-scheduled Russian freighter operator Volga-Dnepr. Aeroflot operates daily flights from Delhi and five weekly services from Goa, while it does not operate scheduled services from Mumbai or other airports managed by AAHL.

However, Mumbai serves as a key export processing point for cargo originating from western and southern India and destined for Russia. Shipments are brought to Mumbai by road, processed at the airport cargo complex, security-screened and cleared by Customs before being moved by domestic air services or bonded trucks to Delhi or Goa for onward loading onto Russian flights.

The disruption has also affected regular government-to-government supplies moving between India and Russia, according to a source cited in the report.

SW Trading, Aeroflot’s official cargo sales agent in India, has raised concerns over the mounting delays. Its director, Shubham Singh, said prolonged disruption could affect cargo movement from Mumbai and impact the wider India-Russia trade lane.

In a September 23 letter to Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), SW Trading said its trucks had been waiting for carting orders for three to four days. The company also flagged rising storage and truck detention charges.

The company subsequently sought government intervention, approaching the ministries of civil aviation, external affairs and home affairs, along with Customs authorities. Sources said the government has begun examining the issue.

The reason for the stoppage remains contested. Sources cited in the report said airport officials indicated they had received instructions from AAHL headquarters. The disruption reportedly came days after the Adani Group raised $1 billion from funds managed by US-based BlackRock, with an Economic Times report linking the decision to US sanctions on Russia imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

SW Trading has argued that AAHL, as a government-appointed custodian under the Customs Act, is required to provide cargo services to airlines without discrimination. It has asked Customs to direct the airport to provide written clarification on the specific grounds and instructions behind the refusal to process Aeroflot cargo.

Delmos Aviation Pvt Ltd, Aeroflot’s general sales and service agent, has also taken up the matter with the government.