India’s low cost carrier SpiceJet said it is considering the launch of night-time freighter services using some of its Bombardier Q 400 aircraft, which are currently only being used for day-time operations.
India’s Economic Times quoted Manjiv Singh, advisor to SpiceJet chairman Ajav Singh on cargo and special projects, as saying that the company is looking at “getting into an exclusive agreement
with e-commerce and other companies as we expect the use of airlines to deliver products to pick up further once the festive season approaches. E-commerce firms need airlines to deliver their
goods to their customers as well as get deliveries from various suppliers across the country. They want us to provide them air connectivity in the north-east,” Singh said.
He added that the aircraft that will be used for this operation would be those sitting dead at night. “They would be utilised to fly ‘cargo on seat’ between Bangalore and Delhi.”
Additional revenue generator
Singh said that the freighter plans were in the planning stage and should take shape in the next 3-6 months.
According to the advisor, revenues from cargo operations are 3-4% of the airline’s passenger revenue. If the freighter plans are successful, these revenues could increase to 8-10% of passenger
revenue by the end of the current fiscal.
SpiceJet currently operates a fleet of 35 aircraft including 18 Boeing 737, 2 Airbus 319 (on wet lease) and 14 Bombardier Q 400 aircraft.
Nol van Fenema
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