Navi Mumbai Airport Handles 46-Ton Antonov Cargo Arrival
The Antonov AN-124 Ruslan, one of the world’s largest cargo aircraft, landed at Navi Mumbai International Airport on Wednesday morning carrying about 46 tonnes of goods from Abu Dhabi, in an operation that highlighted the airport’s ability to handle oversized and specialised freight.
Navi Mumbai | September 3, 2026
The aircraft arrived at around 10.30 am from Abu Dhabi and was welcomed with a water-cannon salute, according to a report by Loksatta – Navi Mumbai. The arrival marked the handling of a large cargo aircraft at the airport and demonstrated its capacity to receive freight involving heavy machinery, oversized materials and other specialised consignments.
The Antonov AN-124 Ruslan is a wide-bodied Code F cargo aircraft. Its maximum structural capacity is described as up to 150 tonnes, while its typical commercial payload is around 120 tonnes. The aircraft that landed at Navi Mumbai carried approximately 46 tonnes of goods.
The arrival comes as international cargo operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport expand. Dedicated freighter services to Hong Kong and Dubai have begun, increasing the airport’s international air-cargo connectivity, the report said.
Three cargo services a week are planned for Hong Kong, along with three weekly services to Dubai. These services are expected to carry e-commerce shipments, engineering materials, pharmaceuticals, perishable goods and other freight.
The airport’s ability to accommodate the Antonov AN-124 is significant for cargo movements that require aircraft capable of carrying large or heavy consignments. Such operations differ from standard passenger-aircraft belly cargo or conventional freighter movements because they may involve specialised handling requirements and larger freight dimensions.
The reported arrival also adds to the airport’s developing role in international logistics. Alongside the scheduled freighter links, the handling of an aircraft in the AN-124 category provides an operational demonstration of the airport’s ability to serve cargo movements involving substantial loads.
The Hong Kong and Dubai services, together with the airport’s handling of the Abu Dhabi-origin cargo flight, are the latest reported developments in Navi Mumbai’s international cargo operations. The planned schedule for the two dedicated routes is three weekly services to each destination.
