Domestic airlines eyeing dedicated freighters

Mumbai: With passenger planes not really helping them to make profits, the domestic airline companies are now turning to cargo business in a big way.
A study by the Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation (CAPA) on freight business reveals that over the next 18 months, six carriers will be operating dedicated freighters in the country signalling a lift-off of this long-ignored segment.
Quoting a forecast made by Airbus, the CAPA study said India's dedicated freighters would grow from eight aircraft at present to around 165 aircraft by 2025, an average of one new freighter delivery every 1.5 months, to service its strong expected domestic and international growth.
There has been a strong growth in the air cargo business over the last few years but bulk of it was handled by foreign airlines.
The study says India's airlines handled only 12 per cent of total freight volumes to and fro India in 2005-06.
As per estimates, export freight and outbound cargo exceeds inbound by a ratio of 3:2. The total market crossed the eight lakh tonne mark during 2005-06.
17/06/07 Zee News

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Categories: Cargo Jun 2007, New Jun 2007