The country’s leading low-cost domestic and international airline, IndiGo recently operated three Airbus A320 cargo-only PAX flights to and from Singapore and Maldives, carrying over 50 tonnes of cargo including pharmaceuticals, fruits and vegetables in the belly and cabin, while maintaining all precautionary measures.
Two IndiGo flights on the Mumbai-Male-Mumbai and Trivandrum-Male-Trivandrum route on May 02 ferried approximately 28.361 tonnes of cargo, and one IndiGo flight on the Mumbai-Bengaluru-Singapore-Mumbai route on April 30 transported a total of 13.664 tonnes of freight. On its return journey, the same aircraft brought back 8.008 tonnes of cargo from Singapore to Mumbai.
“We have been successfully, using our A320 passenger aircraft in a ‘freighter mode’, helping maintain and support supply chains in and out of the country at this critical time. Having previously operated these cargo flights to the Gulf region, we have now operated these flights to Singapore from Bangalore and to Maldives from Trivandrum and Mumbai,” IndiGo Chief Executive Officer Ronojoy Dutta said.
IndiGo, on April 18, operated the first-ever cargo-on-seat international flight from Kochi to Abu Dhabi, transporting fresh vegetables and other supermarket supplies for Indian expatriates in the UAE.
On April 16, the carrier launched its inaugural cargo-on-seat domestic flight between Delhi and Kochi, carrying some medical supplies on behalf of both the state’s government.
“While flying medical supplies, fresh vegetables and other export cargo, IndiGo continues to contribute and adapt its business to the needs of the hour,” Dutta said.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there is a dire need for movement of medical equipment and essential goods, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has permitted cargo operations using existing passenger category aircraft subject to specific guidelines issued by the regulator.
“We are grateful to the government for allowing to carry cargo in the cabin, which has enabled these operations during the lockdown period,” Dutta expressed.
