Air India kisses cargo goodbye

CASH-strapped Air India is selling six 737 freighters, as it tries to claw back tumbling revenues.

The move will effectively kill plans to launch a dedicated cargo service.

The carrier has offered to lease out five of its eight 777-200Fs for eight to 10 years and has decided to go for the sale and leaseback of the first seven 787 Dreamliners it is expected to receive till June this year.

Three of the six 30-year-old 737-200Fs were operating postal charters for the India Post.

Originally passenger aircraft, they were converted into cargo carriers in 2007 when the airline had planned to launch its pan-India cargo service.