Ludhiana, India
Air freight in Ludhiana
Ziem Logistics books air freight to and from Ludhiana via Delhi (DEL). We arrange pick-up and delivery in the Ludhiana area and prepare the customs entries before the cargo flies. For air freight to and from India we issue our own air waybills.
Airports, seaports and connections in Ludhiana
- AirportDelhi
DEL - AirportAmritsar
ATQ - SeaportMundra and Nhava Shevavia inland container depots
Ludhiana has only a small domestic airport, so international air freight is trucked to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi or to Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ) in Amritsar, with Chandigarh International Airport (IXC) as a regional option. Delhi offers the widest choice of flights and cargo capacity. Ludhiana is far from the coast; sea freight is handled through inland container depots in and around the city and moved by rail to Mundra, Pipavav or Nhava Sheva, where containers connect with ocean services.
NH44, the historic Grand Trunk Road, links Ludhiana with Jalandhar and Amritsar to the north-west and with Ambala and Delhi to the south-east. The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor starts at Sahnewal near Ludhiana and runs towards eastern India, while rail container services connect the inland depots with the western ports.
Operational logistics facts for Ludhiana
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Inland container depots in the Ludhiana area | FCL/LCL with inland customs clearance | Containers cleared near the factory, then railed to the ports |
| Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (Sahnewal) | Rail freight towards eastern India | Rail link starting at the edge of Ludhiana |
| Bicycle and auto parts cluster | Bicycles, components, auto parts, hand tools | Pick-up arranged directly at manufacturers |
| NH44 to Delhi and Amritsar | Trucking to DEL and ATQ | Choice of airports for international air freight |
Industries in Ludhiana and how we support them
Ludhiana is Punjab's main industrial city and India's centre for bicycle and bicycle-component manufacturing. It also produces auto parts, hand tools, sewing machine parts and woollen knitwear and hosiery, much of it from small and medium-sized firms. Exports go to Europe, North America and neighbouring regions, while imports include steel, machinery and yarn. Ziem Logistics supports these manufacturers with air freight via DEL under our own air waybills, consolidated sea freight through the inland container depots, Next Flight Out for machine spares and customs clearance by our partner team in the Ziem network.
Next Flight Out and On-Board Courier in Ludhiana
Next Flight Out means your shipment travels on the first available flight to or from Delhi (DEL), booked and documented by our operations desk.
An On-Board Courier is the option when even that is too slow or the goods need to stay in sight: a courier travels with the shipment and delivers it to the consignee in the Ludhiana area.
Booked directly with the airline
For India we issue the air waybill ourselves. The booking, the shipment data and the advance cargo information come from one desk, which reduces handovers and keeps the documents consistent.
Customs clearance in India
Ziem network
Customs clearance in India is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from India we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in India need an Importer-Exporter Code (IEC).
Frequently asked questions
Which airport do you use for air freight from Ludhiana, Delhi or Amritsar?
Most international shipments go via DEL, which offers far more flights and cargo capacity. Amritsar (ATQ) can be an option for certain routings. We choose the airport per shipment and confirm the trucking schedule and cut-off time with the booking.
Does winter fog in Punjab affect shipments from Ludhiana?
From December to January dense fog in North India regularly disrupts flights and slows trucking on NH44. We plan with buffer during that period, monitor flight operations and rebook where necessary.
Can you fly urgent knitwear orders from Ludhiana?
Yes. We collect garments from manufacturers in Ludhiana, prepare the export documents and book air freight from DEL under our own air waybills, consolidating smaller orders where this suits the destination.
How do I get a quote for air freight to or from Ludhiana?
Send us the origin, destination, goods description, weight and dimensions. Our operations desk replies with a routing via Delhi (DEL) and an itemised quote.