Post the lockdown and subsequent to the Government approval of Cargo operations, both Spicejet and Indigo have donned the role of cargo operators in India.
Spicejet has taken the lead and in the past 14 days of the lockdown, it has emerged as a cargo major by transporting over 1,400 tonnes of goods, mainly medical supplies, across the country.
It’s almost double of all other airlines combined. It operated around 200 domestic and international cargo flights, the largest number of trips, during the period.
Most of these cargo flights were free of cost and as a part of efforts to aid the Centre’s fight against Covid-19. On Tuesday, the budget airline operated the country’s first cargo-on-seat Delhi-Chennai flight, carrying 11 tonnes of essential supplies in the passenger cabin and belly space.
The airline deployed a Boeing 737 NG aircraft after approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
“Today, for the first time in the country, we used a passenger aircraft to transport cargo where in addition to the belly space the passenger cabin was used to carry essential supplies,” Spicejet said.
IndiGo has also been authorised by the government to operate 30 emergency relief flights at its own cost to carry essential items such as medical equipment across the country.
“The airline has been allowed by the government to carry cargo in their planes, to fly food, medicine and medical equipment in the country’s battle against the pandemic.
“These flights are being operated by the company at its own cost,” the low-cost carrier said in its statement