Airline major IndiGo is considering launching dedicated freighter services regardless of an expected rise in cargo transportation, particularly to transport COVID-19 vaccine once it is available. Indigo has already held preliminary discussions with European aviation major Airbus on the type of freighters that could be possibly put into service for dedicated freighter flights, as said by an industry source.
IndiGo, which has over 250 planes in its fleet, is one of the largest customers of Airbus, especially A320 neo aircraft. To a query on whether the carrier is planning to launch dedicated freighter services, IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta said it was being studied as a proposal. According to the source, it is reported that a mid-level IndiGo executive, who is into handling the airline's partnerships and aero-political affairs, recently held preliminary level discussions with Airbus executives on the type of air freighter that could be used for such operations. The dedicated air freighter service is expected to be a division within the airline.
Cargo transportation raked in revenues for airlines when commercial air passenger services were suspended for a long period during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. IndiGo registered higher revenue by operating around 1,700 cargo flights in between April 18 -Sept 7 as compared to the earnings over the last financial year, however, specific figures were not available right away.
Scheduled domestic air passenger services were discontinued for two months from March 25 as part of efforts to control spreading of coronavirus infections. The services recommenced on May 25. While scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended from March 23, overseas flights are allowed under various air bubble pacts. As per estimates from the International Air Transport Association, cargo revenue worldwide is expected to reach a near-record and more than double to 26% of the industry's total revenue this year.
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