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Foreign airlines keen to raise cargo space

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI, Dec. 14

A NUMBER of foreign airlines such as Alitalia, British Airways, SwissAir, KLM, Aeroflot and Lufthansa Cargo have expressed their willingness to increase their cargo capacity from India during the latter part of 2000-2001.

A meeting to assess the air cargo capacity and demand during the current season, so as to avoid the acute shortage of cargo capacity experienced in 1999-2000, was held here on Thursday. Chaired by the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Mr H.S. Kh ola, 49 representatives of international cargo operators, exporters' associations, air cargo agents and Airports Authority of India were present, according to an official release.

Most of the cargo operators informed that the present capacity available is much more than the cargo available and a considerable proportion of their capacity remains unutilised.

The present capacity available on scheduled passenger flights and non-scheduled cargo flights is expected to meet the increased demand of cargo capacity during the initial peak period of 2000-2001.

Last season, some exporters faced cancellation of their orders on account of delay in export of their goods. According to the DGCA, around 30,000 tonnes of goods are exported by air per month.

According to projections, the export air cargo may grow about 12 to 15 per cent over the previous year and an additional 20 per cent capacity creation is being planned.