Indian passenger airline Jet Airways will launch dedicated freighter operations (subject to regulatory approvals) in April, becoming the first private Indian passenger airline to offer all-cargo services, the company announced on Tuesday (17 March).
The freighter services will be operated using an A330-200F aircraft wet-leased from strategic-partner Etihad Airways and will have an operating base in New Delhi.
Scheduled to start in April 2015, the freighter services will operate to a number of international and domestic destinations including Bangalore, Hong Kong, Hanoi and Singapore.
Cramer Ball, Chief Executive Officer, Jet Airways, said: “The launch of dedicated freighter operations is a landmark moment for Jet Airways as it enables the airline to provide, for the first time, freighter services for customers in India and around the world.
“In line with the ‘Guest First’ strategy that Jet Airways has implemented for its passenger services, Jet Airways Cargo has developed a wide range of service options to meet the growing needs of its customers, including express and valuable products.
“India is now the second fastest growing air cargo market in the world and this growth is expected to continue in line with the country’s economy and we look forward to cargo making a strong contribution to the annual revenues of Jet Airways.”
The launch of Jet Airways’ dedicated freighter services demonstrates the importance of cargo to the Indian economy and will support the Indian Government’s “Make in India” campaign which requires strong logistics support, the airline said.
It will help facilitate international commerce by developing existing and new trade lanes such as between Vietnam and India, it added.
Jet Airways currently operates a fleet of 116 aircraft, which include a mix of Boeing 777-300 ERs/Airbus A330-200/300 aircraft, Next Generation Boeing 737s and ATR 72-500/600s.
Flights to 71 destinations span the length and breadth of India and beyond, including Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Bangkok, Brussels, Colombo, Dammam, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Kathmandu, Kuwait, London (Heathrow), Muscat, New York (Newark), Paris, Riyadh, Sharjah, Singapore and Toronto.
