Less than a month since Ireland’s ASL Aviation Group received an air operator certificate for India’s Quikjet, freighter services have commenced as of Feb. 17. The cargo flight begins in Bengaluru, connecting to Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad with four daily flights.
Quikjet was formed as a startup in 2007, backed by various Indian investors, according to our sister publication, Cargo Facts. Swiss-based Farnair acquired a 36 percent share of the airline in 2012. By 2015, Farnair was a majority owner in the carrier. ASL acquired Farnair last year, and got the ball rolling.
In its second phase, the Quikjet route will be expanded to connect to Mumbai and and Kolkata. So far a 737-400F is in service, but when the two latter destinations are added, it is speculated that an additional aircraft will be needed.
Quikjet is launching these services for Mumbai-based Sovika Aviation, an airport-to-airport logistics provider, with interests in “chemicals, aviation and lifestyle,” and which is active in aircraft leasing, ground handling, air charters, flight operations and airline representative services.
Quikjet CEO Preetham Phillip said that this newly introduced connectivity with Sovika will provide a key advantage to the growing e-commerce industry in India.