Brussels Airport and Hyderabad International Airport join forces to strengthen air cargo connectivity between Belgium and India

Brussels Airport has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hyderabad International Airport, one of the most important airports in India. The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation in air cargo development by sharing knowledge and improving connectivity between Brussels and Hyderabad. The partnership will also explore how Brussels Airport’s expertise in pharmaceutical logistics and Hyderabad’s life sciences ecosystem can complement each other and create new opportunities for collaboration.

Brussels Airport and Hyderabad International Airport aim to build closer ties between their pharma and life sciences communities, creating a stronger bridge between the heart of Europe and India. While there is currently no direct air connection between Brussels and Hyderabad, both airports will work together to identify opportunities to strengthen connectivity and further develop cargo links between Belgium and India.

“With this MoU, we are taking an important step to bring the ecosystems of Brussels Airport and Hyderabad International Airport closer together. By strengthening cargo flows between our regions, we can support trade and economic growth. As Europe’s preferred pharma and life sciences hub, Brussels Airport has built a strong ecosystem and extensive expertise in pharmaceutical logistics. Combined with Hyderabad’s leading life sciences ecosystem, this creates valuable opportunities for future cooperation and knowledge exchange.”, says Arnaud Feist, CEO Brussels Airport.

“Hyderabad’s growing economic base and strategic location position it strongly to serve as a gateway for India’s international trade. Our collaboration with Brussels Airport strengthens our ability to connect Hyderabad with the wider European cargo ecosystem and supports our ambition to build a more globally integrated cargo network. By bringing together market expertise, industry partnerships and complementary strengths, we can create new opportunities for businesses in Hyderabad and across the region while strengthening the airport’s role in India’s international trade corridors.”, says Kadhir Kadhiravan, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd.

Connecting two leading pharma and life sciences hubs

Brussels Airport has developed extensive expertise in pharmaceutical logistics, supporting Belgium’s position as the world’s fourth-largest exporter of pharmaceutical products. In 2014, Brussels Airport became the first airport globally that achieved CEIV Pharma certification, the internationally recognised quality standard for the handling and transport of pharmaceutical products. Today, the airport offers 45,000 square meters of temperature-controlled storage capacity, making it home to Europe’s largest concentration of dedicated airport storage facilities. ​
Meanwhile, India is a major player in the global pharmaceutical industry. It is the world’s largest supplier of generic medicines, accounting for approximately 20% of global supply by volume. At the heart of this pharma ecosystem is Hyderabad, a leading life sciences cluster and a major centre for pharmaceutical manufacturing, vaccines and Research & Development. ​

The MoU was signed with the support of Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), the Flemish government agency responsible for promoting international trade and investment, underlining the growing strategic and economic ties with India. In the coming months, Brussels Airport and Hyderabad International Airport will develop concrete initiatives that support the growth of cargo traffic and strengthen the pharma and life sciences value chain between both regions.