India is to expand air cargo with five new-freighters

INDIA's Department of Posts (DoP) is seeking funds from the national Planning Commission to buy or lease at least five more freighters to expand air cargo services to other states, reports The Hindu newspaper.

According to an unidentified senior DoP official, the Planning Commission approved the proposal in principle. The official said the DoP is calling for the immediate approval of funds to add at least one more aircraft for the cargo service soon, while the remaining four freighters could be added in stages, to improve mail and parcel delivery in the country.

"We have urged the Planning Commission to incorporate our proposal in the final draft of the 11th Five-Year Plan, to be released soon, so that necessary funds for the ambitious project could be earmarked," said an unidentified senior DoP official in the report.

It said the request comes on the back of the successful launch at the end of August of the DoP's maiden Air India Boeing 737-200 cargo flights to seven north-eastern states. Flight serving Kolkata, Guwahati, Imphal and Agartala to use Kolkata as a hub.

The requested aircraft funding comes as the demand for the air cargo service is more than twice the existing capacity. "State governments in the northeast, where plane do not stop over now have asked us to add their capitals to the route. The demand is huge and we want to expand our service in the region," said the official.

The report also noted that the DoP also intends to introduce its air cargo service to the northern, western and southern regions by using Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai as hubs.