AIR France-KLM Cargo plan to withdraw operations from India in March because they are not making money in the face of cut-throat competition, said cargo director Michael Wisbrun.
Services to Delhi, Madras and Bangalore, using AF-KL Cargo B747-200Fs , will terminate, but might be resumed in November, when the carrier receives its fuel-efficient B777-200LRFs, another company official told the UK's Air Cargo News.
Mr Wisbrun told Frankfurt's Aircargo Club that severe competition had depressed prices, and the rapid growth of Indian airlines, was making operations on the subcontinent a loss-making market.
"We will stop the pure freighter service to India, since the economical aspect of this service, with the B747-200F, was not cost effective. When the efficient B777-200 LRF is integrated into our fleet, serving India with freighters will be reconsidered," he said.
The carrier has struggled to fill bellyhold capacity on some routes to and from India but the airline found it hard to find east-bound cargo to India, as yields are very low.
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