“Think big in size and substance.” That is what Civil Aviation Minister for State, Praful Patel told the rank and the file of Air India, as he flagged off Air India’s first dedicated freighter aircraft to Europe.
Air India’s first dedicated freighter, a converted A310 aircraft, takes off for Europe
“Think big in size and substance.” That is what Civil Aviation Minister for State, Praful Patel told the rank and the file of Air India, as he flagged off Air India’s first dedicated freighter aircraft to Europe from the Chattrapati Shivaji International Airport on Wednesday.
The converted A310 aircraft (from passenger to freighter) can carry 34 tonne of cargo and will be deployed on the Europe route (Mumbai-Bangalore-Damam-Mumbai), along with another A310 converted aircraft with total seven flights per week and a collective capacity of 474 tonne of cargo. The conversion cost of the aircraft is $79,50,000.
Emphasising that cargo operations have to be the next big thing in aviation, Patel said, “The target should be to have at least 500 dedicated cargo planes in the next 10-15 years on the lines of dedicated cargo airlines like the FedEx. The government will play the role of the facilitator and the new aviation policy Vision 2020 would allow for a level playing field for all the airlines.”
Mumbai would be made the main link to cargo operations and Nagpur would be the cargo hub of the country.
Lamenting that the airlines in India have not been able to tap the commercial aspect of cargo operations, despite an upsurge in the import-export demand, V Thulasidas, Air India CMD said, “The high value and low volume dense cargo that is best carried by air will offer great opportunities for both the national as well as the other airlines in the country and cargo operations will be the main business unit of the merged entity.”
Thulasidas also announced that 737-200, currently flying with Indian, will join the freighter operations. The aircraft will carry cargo within the country and A310 would be for the European routes and later to fly to East- China and Japan.
The airline is also looking at adding long haul capacity leased aircraft to fly to the United States.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}