Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR) reported 79% increase in overall cargo air traffic movements (ATMs) for the first quarter of 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. The airport attributed the growth in movements primarily to increases in demand for perishables and pharmaceuticals.
Between April and July 2020, the airport facilitated 2,990 ATMs, processing 71,406 metric tonnes (MT) of cargo which included 6,194 MT of perishables and 2,300 MT of pharma supplies. Perishables including 507 MT of mangoes were delivered to 31 international destinations.
While international cargo throughput was 51,728 MT, domestic was 19,678 MT. The other freight processed included electronic and engineering equipment, spare parts, and readymade garments.
During the period from April to July, BLR Airport’s cargo market share rose to 15.3% from 11.2%.
About 40% of BLR Airport’s cargo from April to July was transported by passenger aircraft for cargo-only operations. Before the pandemic, BLR Airport’s cargo volumes were distributed between freighter and passenger aircraft in 40:60 ratio.
In addition, BLR Airport processed 341 MT of COVID-19-related cargo from March to July.
Record cargo uplifts by airlines
Oman Air set a new record by uplifting 49,593 kgs of perishable cargo from BLR Airport in June. This is the highest ever PTC uplifts on an A330-300 single aircraft for both Oman Air as well as BLR Airport. The uplift included vegetables, hatching eggs, fruits and other perishables.
Emirates SkyCargo created a record, lifting 73,928 kgs on a Boeing 777-300ER Passenger to Cargo (P2C) aircraft at BLR Airport; this was a record across its network. The consignment included pharmaceuticals, garments and machinery
DHL handled their highest tonnage of 1,461 MT in the month of June 2020. This is their highest tonnage in a month since their inception at BLR Airport in June 2020.
FedEx handled their highest tonnage of 1,385 MT in the month of June 2020. This is their highest tonnage in one month since their inception at BLR Airport.
Live organ transportation between Bengaluru and Frankfurt
BLR Airport’s Menzies Aviation Bobba Bangalore Cargo Terminal handled live human organs shipment during the COVID-19 lockdown. The shipment carried on May 01 from Frankfurt to Bengaluru by Lufthansa Cargo included human blood stem cells and bone marrow. A similar package was exported to Frankfurt on May 16.
Ornamental fish moves from Thailand via BLR to Kozhikode
BLR Airport processed a special consignment of 24,200 numbers of exotic ornamental fish from Thailand in July. With approvals from Indian Customs and the Animal Quarantine Services, the Betta splendens and Flower Horn fish were sent to their new home in Kozhikode, Kerala.
