Page 10 - ITLN January - February 2024 Issue for the Website

Cover Story
Indian air cargo

the maturation of Indian MROs in demand for MRO services for the known as AirAsia Group) to further
the country to support the vision country’s expanding commercial fleet, increase Teleport's cargo network
of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, but also especially the A320 family of aircraft that coverage and palletized capacity
supports the anticipated growth of have democratised air travel in India. on critical sectors connecting India
the cargo sector in the region,” said Meanwhile in October 2023, and Southeast Asia. And in a recent
Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India. AerCap Holdings delivered its first development in November 2023,
According to Boeing’s Commercial Airbus A321 Passenger-to-Freighter Ras Al Khaimah-based Vaayu Group
Market Outlook, India’s air cargo growth (P2F) aircraft to IndiGo. The aircraft became an investor in Pradhaan Air
is expected to average 6.3 percent conversion was completed by Elbe on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow
annually, driven by the country’s Flugzeugwerke (EFW) before being 2023 which opens up business
manufacturing and e-commerce delivered to IndiGo at ST Engineering opportunities in the Middle East
sectors, including its Make in India Aerospace in Singapore. for Pradhaan.
initiative. Boeing forecasts demand Other recent freighters that Amazon India in January 2023
for more than 80 freighters, including entered the Indian market include launched Amazon Air, making it the
production and converted freighters in that from the launch of Amazon Air first e-commerce company in the
the next 20 years. in India and Pradhaan Air Express. country to have a dedicated air cargo
On the same line, Airbus in Pradhaan Air started its operations network. Amazon Air is utilising the
November 2023 partnered with in October 2022 with the world's complete cargo capacity of a Boeing
Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) to support first A320 converted freighter. Since 737-800 aircraft, operated by Quikjet
their entry into servicing of commercial then the freighter has flown several Cargo Airlines, a joint venture between
aircraft, “seeking to strengthen the flights connecting Indian cities as AFL and the Ireland-based ASL
aircraft Maintenance, Repair and well as Southeast Asia. In May 2023, Aviation Group.
Overhaul (MRO) industry in India.” India's youngest cargo airline inked Spicexpress, another important
Through this partnership, Airbus an MoU with Teleport, a logistics player in the air cargo ecosystem,
supports HAL to tap into the growing venture of Capital A (previously recently got engaged into some

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