SpiceJet launches scheduled freighter services between Singapore and India

Indian airline SpiceJet, has launched twice-weekly services between Singapore and three Indian cities – Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai. The carrier’s first flight from Chennai landed at Changi Airport on February 20 at 1115 hrs. Operated under SpiceJet’s cargo arm, SpiceXpress, using a B737F aircraft, the new services will provide additional airfreight capacity between Singapore and India.

SpiceJet launched its cargo operations under SpiceXpress in September 2018 and has since expanded its fleet to 19 cargo aircraft, including five widebody aircraft (as of January 2021). Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the airline has aided in the transportation of critical goods and medical supplies internationally. It has emerged as India’s largest air cargo operator by fleet and cargo carriage.

The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a reduction in global air travel. To address the reduction in bellyhold cargo capacity due to the fall in passenger traffic at Changi Airport, Changi Airport Group (CAG) has been working closely with its airline partners who operate the Singapore-India route to ensure that supply chains are kept open. In 2020, India was Changi Airport’s sixth largest air cargo market, with cargo tonnage reaching 75,000 tonnes for the year.

Between April and December 2020, SpiceJet operated over 230 chartered cargo flights, comprising freighter and cargo-only passenger flights, between India and Singapore. The air cargo capacity injected by SpiceJet has helped support air trade and the conveyance of humanitarian goods, including medical supplies and perishables, between the two countries.

In addition to SpiceJet, there are four other cargo airlines (AeroLogic, FedEx Express, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Cargo) operating freighter flights between Singapore and India. In 2020, airlines such as Emirates, IndiGo, Singapore Airlines and SriLankan Airlines have also operated cargo-only passenger flights between India and Singapore.

22/02/21 STAT Times

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Categories: Cargo Feb 2021, Foreign Feb 2021, Spicejet Feb 2021