India’s Jet Airways to wet-lease Etihad freighter

India’s Jet Airways is to launch dedicated freighter operations using an A330-200F aircraft wet-leased from its strategic-partner, Etihad Airways.
Subject to regulatory approvals, the aircraft will fly from an operating base in New Delhi from April 2015 to a number of international and domestic destinations, including Bangalore, Hong Kong, Hanoi and Singapore.
Jet Airways chief executive Cramer Ball described it as “a landmark moment” for the domestic and international passenger carrier, as it would enable the airline to provide freighter services for the first time.
Ball added: “India is now the second fastest growing air cargo market in the world and this growth is expected to continue in line with the country’s economy. We look forward to cargo making a strong contribution to the annual revenues of Jet Airways.”
Etihad’s chief strategy and planning officer,Kevin Knight, explained that the Middle East carrier had established “a highly successful freighter operation during the last decade, and this has enabled us to wet-lease this A330-200F aircraft to Jet Airways.”
The dedicated freighter services will also support the government’s ‘Made in India’ campaign.
The new main-deck capability will complement Jet Airways’ passenger belly network as well as infusing much needed additional cargo capacity into constrained domestic sectors.
It will help foster the continued growth and scale of the domestic e-commerce sector and facilitate international commerce by developing existing and new trade lanes such as between Vietnam and India.