Airline operators launching cargo liners

New Delhi: The fledgling air cargo market is about to see some action. Cargo has been largely carried in the belly of passenger aircraft till now- DHL subsidiary Blue Dart Aviation being the only exception- but from hereon dedicated cargo airliners are being launched by various operators.
Besides the national carrier Air India, private airlines such as Jet Airways, Quikjet, MDLR and a Hyderabad-based newspaper group are also expected to enter the cargo business soon.
Let’s begin with Air India, which has roped in Gati as a partner. Managing Director V Thulasidas said AI is initially giving two aircraft to Gati on charter basis. The cargo business would have a national hub at Nagpur and the fleet size would touch 10 by the end of next fiscal.
The AI service would initially connect the six big cities-Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad-and thereafter cater to smaller cities. MDLR Airlines is another prospective entrant into the cargo business. Harshvardhan, a director with the company, said his company would begin with international operations early next year.
16/11/07 Sindhu Bhattacharya/Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Cargo Nov 2007, New Nov 2007