The Indian air cargo market has suffered yet another setback. After announcing in February that it would begin a dedicated freighter service with an ACMI-leased A330-200F from Etihad Airways, Mumbai-based Jet Airways has decided otherwise. The Economic Times of India quoted a source that said “the economic conditions were not conducive” to launch such a service. Etihad owns a 24 percent stake in Jet Airways.
Nonetheless, cargo is moving by air both domestically and internationally in India. The Airports Authority of India reports that 2.3 million tonnes of airfreight moved in and out of India, with 75 percent of it carried in bellies.
There is no major airline in India that has a dedicated freighter service. Air India, the country’s national carrier, began a freighter service in 2007, using 737s, but stopped operating it early in 2012.