IndiGo operates over 1700 charter cargo flights since April

IndiGo said it has operated over 1,700 cargo charters since 18 April till 7 September this year and earned higher revenue over these months as compared to the earnings over the last financial year.

New Delhi: With the reopening of economy, the demand for cargo services have also increased. IndiGo on Friday said it operated over 1,700 cargo charters since 18 April till 7 September this year and earned higher revenue over these months as compared to the earnings over the last financial year.

"The cargo charter flights operated across 21 destinations within India and internationally including new stations like Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, Cairo in Egypt, Almaty in Kazakhstan and Tashkent in Uzbekistan," IndiGo said in a statement.

The airline said that at only 32% of operations in August 20, IndiGo successfully managed to generate highest ever monthly net revenue with January being the last top earning month.

"The COVID-induced lockdown this year not only posed a challenge for our business but also turned out to be an opportunity for the the CarGo vertical. We operated passenger flights in 'freighter mode' with CarGo secured in the cabins, to domestic and international stations," IndiGo CEO Ronjoy Dutta said.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), demand for air cargo has rebounded sharply since national lockdown have eased with strong growth expected for the remainder of 2020.

The industry is "entering a reasonably positive environment" for air cargo demand, driven by higher export orders, said IATA chief economist Brian Pearce.

Scheduled international passenger services continue to remain suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, operations of international all-cargo services and flights specifically approved by the DGCA have not been affected.