The Hindu Business Line : Air India Cargo to expand worldwide network

Mr P.K. Gupta, Air India’s Executive Director Sales and Marketing (Cargo), told newspersons, “We have sent our survey teams to assess market potential to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, New York, Chicago, Toronto, Los Angeles and London. We are also looking at Australia and Africa. The survey is likely to be complete by March 31, after which we would decide how to take it forward, but it is our long term plan.”

Last year, Air India Cargo had a turnover of Rs 850 crore and is expecting Rs 1,000 crore this year, Mr Gupta said.

Currently, Air India is operating one Boeing 737-200 aircraft for Department of Post and Telegraph between Kolkata, Guwahati, Imphal and Agartala in the North East; and has entered into a joint venture with Gati Ltd for operating freighter service with Nagpur being the hub.

“We plan to operate five freighters B737-200 of which one has already commenced operation on the Delhi-Mumbai-Bangalore-Delhi route. With Nagpur being the hub, aircraft from Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai will discharge and exchange pallets there,” Mr Gupta added.

Air India Cargo lifts 2,000 tonnes of cargo every day on both international and domestic sector through its dedicated freighters and belly space in passenger aircraft. The airline has already converted two of its Airbus 310s into freighters catering to international cargo. While one is deployed to Frankfurt for Europe route, the other is soon going to be pulled out of Paris to be put on Hong Kong-Singapore route, he said.

Among other plans, Air India would be inducting a web tracking system and putting in a cargo call centre in place in due course. Of the seven B737s, three have been converted to freighters and four are remaining. Two A310s are yet to be converted; the airline is looking to convert six of its Boeing 747-400s by 2010-2012. “Our plan is to have 40 freighters by 2015. We would induct 10 new aircraft for a capacity between 20 to 40 tonnes and 10 for carrying 80 tonne capacity and more.” However, the official was unwilling to discuss the investments required for the future plans of growth.

Air India Cargo is one of the six Strategic Business Units formed post merger of Air India and Indian into National Aviation Company of India Ltd.