For the first time in India, SpiceJet uses passenger cabin to move cargo from Delhi to Chennai

April 7, 2020: For the first time ever in India, an airline used their main cabin of passenger flight to carry cargo. SpiceJet, today, used its passenger flight SG 7101 from Delhi to Chennai to carry essential items and medical consumables due to growing demand, not only in its belly but also on the passenger seats.

The airline deployed a Boeing 737 NG aircraft.

Though the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has permitted airlines to use passenger cabins for cargo operations, through a special circular on April 1, this is the first time an Indian airline placed their cargo on the passenger seats while GoAir, Indigo and Air India are enthusiastically pursuing this option.

The aircraft flew from Delhi to Chennai. From Chennai, it operated to Surat and from Surat, it operated back to Chennai. The aircraft will operate from Chennai to Mumbai and from Mumbai to Delhi later today with cargo on-board.

To meet the ever-growing demand of cargo n to keep abreast with the supply of essential items & medical consumables, SpiceXpress flight SG 7101 from Delhi to Chennai created history by transporting cargo in the passenger cabin of the aircraft @HardeepSPuri @AjaySingh_SG @MoCA_GoI pic.twitter.com/fikPI1EznG

— SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) April 7, 2020

Ajay Singh, chairman & managing director, SpiceJet, said, “In these times of unprecedented crisis, SpiceJet is proud to play its part in ensuring that the supply chain remains intact. Since the lockdown began, we have carried more than 1400 tons of cargo operating around 200 domestic and international cargo flights. 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 safely carry essential supplies. We are honoured to be a part of the government’s ‘Lifeline Udan’ initiative. We have also put our five freighters to maximum use to transport cold chain medical supplies, medicines, medical devices for various state governments, medical and pharma companies.”

Few Indian airlines including Air India and Indigo have already used their overhead bins for freight. Meanwhile, all these airlines were already flying their passenger flights with belly hold capacity to transport essential goods.

Internationally, China Eastern, Austrian, Lufthansa, LATAM and Turkish Cargo have already used their passenger cabins for air freight tied into it.