HAL-Concor rolls out cargo operations in Nashik

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the state-run aircraft manufacturer, and Container Corporation of India (Concor), the rake operator, on Tuesday announced launch of international air cargo operations from Nashik Ojhar airport.

HAL, which owns the airport and uses it for defence related activities, plans to scale up passenger operations there and also set up a maintenance, repairs and overhaul facility.

Kingfisher currently operates Mumbai flights from the airport.
The air cargo operations at the Ojhar airport would be undertaken by Halcon, an equal-stake joint venture between HAL and Concor.

Clarion Solutions, a terminal operating company from Transworld group would handle the cargo facility at the airport and also bring
business.

HAL has invested close to Rs60 crore in infrastructure upgradation at the airport while Halcon has invested Rs12.66 crore towards cargo facility investment.

Due to its location, HAL’s managing director PV Deshmukh is confident that the airport will help decongest excess cargo at the Mumbai International Airport.

Another official said while Mumbai handles close to 40,000 tonne cargo a month, Ojhar could help decongest 20% of this.

Company officials did not share details on revenue sharing agreement between the three players. “We should break even in seven to eight years,” said an official.

Going forward, HAL also plans to scale up domestic passenger operations at the airport.

Also, HAL would be developing a civil operations terminal at the airport in partnership with the Maharashtra government.

“We may also look at developing a maintenance and repair overhaul facility at the airport. However, the plan is at a preliminary stage,” he said.

Kingfisher Airlines has been operating flights on the Mumbai-Nashik route from this base for the past three years, which are being currently diverted due to technical reasons for a three-four month period.

HAL is willing to offer airlines to fly cities such as Hyderabad, Pune, Bangalore and Delhi. It does not wish to offer Mumbai-Nashik flights as it may lead to excessive competition between carriers on a single route.

On the cargo side, foreign airlines such as Singapore Airlines and Japanese Nippon Airways are believed to have shown interest in operating from Ojhar.