Mumbai: Air cargo business has turned out to be a loss making proposition for several airlines with fall in demand and yields but come Valentine Day the business blooms again with an increase in shipment of cut flowers chiefly to the US and Europe.
Air India and Jet Airways flew tonnes of fresh flowers to Europe in the last ten-twelve days ahead of Valentine Day though their uplift is much less compared to rival carriers. This is because the Indian carriers lack the network and belly space offered by European and Gulf airlines and flower exports from India are less. Kenya, Ethiopia and Ecuador are top exporters of flowers.
"In the last one week, Jet Airways' cargo has uplifted 30 tonnes of cut flowers onboard its Mumbai - London flights and 9.5 tonnes of flowers on onboard its Mumbai - Brussels flights. About 80 percent of these consignments contained roses. On each flight one pallet space was reserved for cut flowers,'' a Jet Airways said.
13/02/13 Aneesh Phadnis/Business Standard
