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Antonov An-124 Lands at Navi Mumbai Airport, Signals Outsized Cargo Capability

World's Largest Production Freighter Carries 46 Tonnes from Abu Dhabi

Antonov An-124 Navi Mumbai Airport

News: An Antonov An-124 “Ruslan,” the world’s largest production cargo aircraft in regular commercial service, landed at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) carrying around 46 tonnes of cargo from Abu Dhabi.

The aircraft’s front-loading design allows it to carry outsized freight such as industrial machinery, turbines, or aircraft components directly into its hold.

The arrival demonstrates NMIA’s ability to handle heavy-lift and specialised cargo, a capability global freight forwarders weigh when selecting gateway airports for project cargo. NMIA’s Phase 1 cargo complex spans roughly 36,000 square metres for domestic operations and 25,500 square metres for international operations, with designed capacity of 0.5 million tonnes annually, rising to a planned 2.5 to 2.6 million tonnes in later phases. The airport has connected to more than 45 domestic destinations since its December 2025 launch.

For logistics professionals handling project cargo, heavy machinery, or aerospace components, the visit signals that NMIA is positioning itself as a viable Mumbai-region option for outsized freight as it scales operations.