AIR-INDIA's cargo operations are due to take to the skies from June 15, starting with service to Frankfurt and Paris.
"We will begin with the two freighters in the next two weeks and expect to generate revenue of INR800 crore (US$198 million) in 2007-08," said Air-India's executive director for the northern region, DS Kohli, in a report by the Times News Network.
The report said that Air-India intends to capture a larger share of the growing airfreight sector forecast to grow 11.5 per cent annually to 2012. Air-India expects even a larger slice after it merges with Indian Airlines and has access to its fleet.
"We will have five more Boeing 737 from Indian Airlines joining the cargo fleet," said Mr Kohli. "We are also planning to convert eight of our Boeing 747-300 combi aircraft into freighters and will be freighting 38 tonnes of cargo per flight."
This development comes as foreign carriers such as Lufthansa, British Airways and Singapore Airlines have been expanding their cargo capacities in India. Experts in the report were cited saying there is an "acute" shortage of freighters in the domestic market, meaning that demand is outstripping supply.
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