Konkans Guava & Drumstick Moringa Among The First International Shipment From NMIA

Air India Express flight IX-207 carried 1.79 tonnes of Konkan guavas and Drumstick Moringa from Navi Mumbai International Airport to Abu Dhabi on July 15, marking the airport's first international cargo shipment.

The Boeing 737-8 aircraft offers 2.5 tonnes of belly-hold cargo capacity, and Air India expects the service to carry around 25 tonnes of cargo monthly.

The shipment was supported by a cold-chain network with refrigerated trucks, temperature-controlled facilities (15°C to 25°C), and specialized equipment like cool dollies and thermal blankets to preserve produce quality.

Air India Cargo head Ramesh Mamidala stated the service connects western Indian growers directly with Gulf markets, helping exporters reach consumers faster while maintaining product quality.

The two weekly flights (expanding to three) provide a new export gateway for Maharashtra, enabling faster delivery of fresh produce harvested hours earlier to Gulf consumers.