City airport resumes cargo exports to UK

After a break of nearly nine months, cargo exports to the United Kingdom (UK) have resumed from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International airport here. Before the suspension of the cargo exports, tonnes of general cargo and fruits were dispatched and also scheduled for shipment to the UK.

Exports to the UK were halted in July last year after a British inspection team flagged serious shortcomings during an audit. Issues such as malfunctioning X-ray machines, inadequate staffing, and infrastructure gaps led to the suspension of the RA3 (Regulated Agent Third Country Validation Process) license for the airport’s cargo terminal. Without this licence, cargo movement to the UK could not continue. In a significant move to address these concerns, authorities procured a replacement X-ray machine in October last year and had it installed at the Amritsar cargo terminal. Following another inspection by a UK team, the cargo facility’s RA3 licence has now been reinstated, paving the way for renewed export activity.

The airport currently operates three weekly flights each to Birmingham and London Gatwick, with each flight capable of carrying up to 15 tonnes of cargo. Though exports to the UK were halted during the duration of licence suspension, cargo operations to Dubai, Malaysia, Singapore, and Doha continued uninterrupted.

The suspension had a notable economic impact. Export volumes dropped sharply, with a reported 75 per cent decline in cargo revenue. Exporters from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, who traditionally relied on Amritsar airport, were forced to reroute their shipments via Delhi, increasing costs and logistical complexities.

Prior to the suspension, the Amritsar airport had rapidly become a key export hub, handling up to 380 metric tonnes of goods daily to the UK and Europe. Products such as fresh vegetables, fruits, spices, readymade garments, and bed linens were regularly exported from cities of Punjab and other northern states. With the restoration of the licence, exports have now resumed in full swing. Mangoes from Maharashtra and Gujarat are being sent to the UK, and there is a strong demand for items like baby corn, green chilies, and Indian spices.

Compared to Delhi, Amritsar’s air cargo terminal is less congested, making it a preferred choice for exporters in the region looking for quicker and smoother shipment processing.

Amritsar