UPS strengthens India-Germany freight network with expanded operations

Global logistics leader UPS has announced the addition of an extra weekly Boeing 747-8 freighter flight between India and Europe, significantly boosting its air freight capacity in response to rising demand for Indian exports across Europe and North America.

The new freighter service, operating from Delhi to UPS’s Cologne hub in Germany, will double the existing airfreight capacity on the route. The expansion is strategically aligned with the surge in demand for time-sensitive shipments across key sectors including automotive, industrial manufacturing, healthcare, and retail.

From its Cologne gateway, UPS can efficiently move shipments onwards to the United States one of India’s largest EXIM partners strengthening the end-to-end global supply chain between Asia, Europe, and North America.

UPS attributes this move to growing momentum in India’s international trade and supply chain ecosystem, driven by policy reforms, a push for manufacturing competitiveness, and expanded market access. Notably, Europe has emerged as India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral goods trade reaching $137.4 billion in the last fiscal year, further reinforcing the need for robust and scalable freight connectivity.

The express logistics firm has been deepening its India presence through key infrastructure investments. In 2022, it launched air express operations at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, doubled the capacity of its Delhi facility, and opened a temperature-controlled cross-dock in Hyderabad, catering especially to pharma and cold chain logistics. Additionally, UPS formed a joint venture with InterGlobe Enterprises to launch Movin, a fast-growing domestic express delivery network supporting integrated logistics.

This expansion underscores UPS’s commitment to supporting India’s growing role in global trade and supply chain management. By enhancing direct connectivity between Indian exporters and European and American markets, the company aims to provide greater resilience, reliability, and responsiveness across international supply chains.

As India's EXIM volumes continue to rise, strategic logistics expansions such as these are critical in enabling just-in-time delivery models, boosting export competitiveness, and strengthening India’s positioning as a global supply chain hub.