AIR India Cargo is making aggressive moves into the freighter leasing market to increase its revenue by 10 per cent under its new merged identity.
The airline is currently converting six B737-200 aircraft into freighters, which it will lease to India Post and the logistic firm Gati. Together Air India Cargo and India Post, have started freighter services to the north-east region and on the Bombay-Delhi-Bangalore route.
Air India will also convert more A-310 aircraft, its first A-310 freighter has already started operations to the Gulf and Europe. It is planning to have a freighter fleet of at least 10 aircraft by the end of this fiscal.
"There is immense opportunity to tap into the cargo leasing business in the country. We would increase our revenue from the cargo business to Rs 900 crore from Rs 800 crore in the next one year. At present, there is some manpower-related problems due to merger of the two airlines but it would be sorted out," said an Air India official. |
