Air India to launch cargo operations from June
02 May 2007
According to airline officials, the national carrier had an air cargo market share of 30 per cent in the 1990's, which it now hopes to regain. Officials have indicated that the carrier is planning to deploy a fleet of 10 to 12 cargo aircraft, with services to the Gulf, the US and the Far East markets over the coming three years.
As part of its cargo operations the carrier will also lease additional capacities, apart from deploying converted aircraft.
The carrier is also hoping to improve its overall yields with a full-fledged cargo operation. While the break-even mark in passenger services is pegged at a load factor of 65 per cent, in the case of cargo it is somewhat higher at 75 per cent.
The cargo operation would also help the carrier to phase out older aircraft from its fleet, which by now are beginning to show their age. Repeated technical snags keep hitting the headlines on a regular basis.
