There is tremendous potential for domestic air cargo growth but “somehow the jigsaw puzzle” was never pieced together, Union Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said as he rued that currently cargo is only a minuscule part of Indian aviation sector.
Currently, Blue Dart and QuikJet are the only two domestic players operating cargo carriers.
Naresh Goyal-owned Jet Airways had announced its plans to set up a cargo airline in 2015 and had even got Government’s in-principle approval for leasing of a freighter from its strategic investment partner Etihad. However, the airline later shelved the plans, citing market conditions.
The Civil Aviation Minister said there is a need to motivate entities for air cargo operations.
“In India, God has blessed with all types of climates, name the climate, name the produce the potential is tremendous. We are in the infancy (with regard to air cargo),” Raju told PTI in an interview.
Even as the domestic passenger growth has been over 20 per cent for many months, cargo segment is lagging behind.
The national civil aviation policy has also given thrust to boosting air cargo business, especially against the backdrop of rising e-commerce activities and exports. Alex Smith Womens Jersey