Jet Air shelves plans for new cargo airline

Jet Airways has shelved its idea of starting a cargo airline, at least for now. The carrier will continue to concentrate on increasing its cargo uplift through the belly space of aircraft, a senior company official said.

“We do not foresee the plan for full freighter airline taking off in the near future,” the Jet Airways vice-president cargo, Jay Shelat (right), said.

In the last few years, the airline had expressed its intention to start a cargo airline and had wanted to invest around US$8 million-9 million in the venture as an initial sum.

“Any successful freighter venture would require a good integration system of the first mile and last mile connectivity, and at this point in time, getting that matrix is difficult. The infrastructure in the country is another deterrent,” said Shelat.

However, officials are perturbed by the plan not taking off. The cargo carriage through belly space continues to grow, said Shelat. The growth, he says is attributable to the increase in domestic network of Jet Airways and addition of services to international routes — Milan, Italy and Johannesburg, South Africa.