AI to launch cargo services from Nagpur

NAGPUR: Air India (AI) will launch its much-awaited cargo services within the country from July 1 and will connect six major destinations initially, a top official said on Tuesday.
    
Air India has completed converting its four B-737 Boeing aircraft into cargo planes. Each aircraft has a payload capacity of 12 to 15 tonnes.
    
The service from July 1 will connect Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, airline's Airport Director I J K Dhas said.
    
Nagpur will be AI's cargo hub, he said.
    
The first cargo flight will arrive from Kolkata at 0200 hrs and return at 0340 hrs.
    
The second flight from Mumbai will land here at 0220 hrs followed by another from Delhi at 0225 hrs. The last flight from Chennai-via-Bangalore and Hyderabad will reach here at 0245 hrs.
    
After exchanging cargo, all the four flights will return back to their original destinations. AI will run its cargo operations six days a week and there will be no flight on Mondays.
    
The cargo service will be identical to the postal department's night air mail service which was in operation some 45 years back.