MUMBAI- Akasa Air’s (QP) cargo business is consistently expanding, surpassing industry peers in freight loads, according to Praveen Iyer, the airline’s Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer.
Iyer highlighted the significance of cargo as a primary revenue source, noting a steady increase in delivery volumes since the airline’s inception in August 2022.
Akasa Air Cargo Growth
With a robust presence in 20 Indian cities and a cargo carriage exceeding 50,000 tonnes, Akasa Air is now the second-leading airline in cargo operations in Bengaluru.
Despite the domestic air cargo sector facing competition from surface transport and concerns about pricing pressure, Iyer expressed confidence in Akasa Air’s performance, emphasizing that the airline outperforms the available competition.
He noted that since the launch of services, Akasa Air consistently transports nearly one tonne of cargo per flight, exceeding the industry average of 600 to 650 kg.
Akasa Air experiences higher cargo loads, ranging from 1.3 to 1.4 tonnes, particularly from Bengaluru (BLR), its primary hub. The airline attributes its consistent cargo volume to competitive pricing and efficient service.
While Akasa Air did not specify the reasons behind its superior freight loads compared to the industry, it operates a more limited network with 110-120 flights per day across 20 destinations.
In contrast, Air India (AI) and IndiGo (6E) have larger operations, with around 300 and 1,700 daily domestic flights, respectively. This broader network potentially spreads their freight loads across a greater number of flights, and the cargo demand variations in certain destinations can impact the loads of Air India and IndiGo.
Indian Airports Cargo Outlook
Between April and January, Indian airports managed 1.09 million tonnes of cargo, marking a slight increase from the 1.07 million tonnes handled in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Domestic cargo saw a 1.6% growth, while there was a 6% increase in the handling of international cargo during the same timeframe.
In the upcoming weeks, Akasa Air is set to inaugurate four weekly flights connecting Mumbai (BOM) to Doha, marking its inaugural international route.
Praveen Iyer expressed the airline’s continuous pursuit of new opportunities for business expansion, emphasizing the significance of international markets for the growth of their cargo operations.
Feature Image: Anurag Bengani | Vecc_Spotting
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