The Hindu Business Line : BA World Cargo bullish on Indian market

The British Airways World Cargo's Managing Director, Mr Gareth Kirkwood, told Business Line that the cargo business from India was being driven by pharmaceuticals, textile and auto component businesses.

"India is turning out to be one of the key strategic markets for the long term," Mr Kirkwood said. He added that between 8 per cent and 10 per cent of the total revenues of the cargo business comes from India.

He said BA World Cargo would be opening a new cargo handling facility of about 7,000 sq metre at Heathrow for premium products in September. The BA World Cargo's Head of Sales & International Customer Services & Operations, Mr Baba Devani, said his company was looking forward to increase more business out of India with the development of upgraded international airports in metros, which are expected to become operational before 2010. "We expect more business from our operations once world class infrastructure comes up in India," he said.

Mr Kirkwood said that the emphasis for the company's cargo business has always been on profit. BA World Cargo went to the extent of reducing 50 per cent of the senior management staff and one-third of the middle management recently to make its business tighter and more result oriented.

The company has also been tying up with forwarders across the globe and is committing itself to the freighter routes that it operates in. Mr Kirkwood said several of its services were now well-defined making it easier for customers to deal with BA World Cargo. It is also using the fifth freedom rights to increase its business to and from India.