Air India plans to increase its cargo capacity by 300% over the next five years with the addition of new wide-body aircraft to its fleet. This will support India’s manufacturing and export growth and contribute to the development of an efficient air cargo supply chain.

Air India’s Ambitious Growth Plans to Boost India’s Cargo Ecosystem

Air India’s plans to increase its cargo capacity by 300% in the next five years is a major step towards boosting India’s cargo ecosystem and contributing to the country’s economic development. With the addition of new wide-body aircraft to its fleet and the implementation of strategic measures, Air India is positioning itself as a major player in the air cargo industry.

One of the key factors driving this growth is the increasing demand for air cargo services in India. With the government’s plan to grow the industry to 10 million tonnes by 2030, Air India’s ambitious expansion plans align perfectly with the country’s goals. By significantly increasing its annual cargo capacity to 2 million tonnes, Air India will be able to cater to the growing export demands of India, further strengthening its position as a major cargo carrier.

The integration of technology such as blockchain, AI, and drones will enable Air India to optimize productivity and provide a wide range of services with global capabilities. These advancements, combined with the adoption of latest IT solutions, will enhance efficiency in areas such as electronic data interchange, seamless connectivity with trade partners, and real-time updates on flight and shipment status. This will not only improve the overall customer experience but also streamline operations and increase productivity.

Investments in infrastructure, including airport and logistics infrastructure, are essential for the growth of the air cargo industry. Air India’s collaboration with its joint venture partner SATS highlights its commitment to investing in the development of infrastructure. Additionally, the exploration of possibilities to augment freighter capacity in collaboration with partners will further enhance Air India’s capabilities to meet the growing demands of the cargo industry.

Another crucial aspect of Air India’s growth strategy is its focus on expanding its reach through strategic partnerships and collaborations. By strengthening interline partnerships and trucking network connections, Air India aims to foster increased exports. The expansion of its domestic network will also play a significant role in catering to the expanding domestic e-commerce and business markets in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

Furthermore, Air India’s commitment to providing efficient, streamlined, and cost-effective connectivity in terms of point-to-point transportation to short and long-haul destinations throughout its network is commendable. The launch of three 24×7 control centers to improve customer interface, customer service, and operations efficiency will undoubtedly contribute to enhancing the overall customer experience.

Air India’s diverse carriage of products and services, including pharma logistics, e-commerce, express services, and cold chain solutions for perishables, will be further enhanced with the increase in capacity and adoption of technology. This will enable Air India to meet the evolving needs of its customers and strengthen its position as a global player in the air cargo industry.

Overall, Air India’s ambitious growth plans and strategic initiatives showcase its commitment to playing a key role in boosting India‘s cargo ecosystem. By focusing on capacity expansion, technology adoption, infrastructure investment, and strategic partnerships, Air India is well-positioned to contribute significantly to the development of an efficient air cargo supply chain, accelerate exports from India, and drive economic growth.

 

Air India eyes 300% growth in cargo capacity in 5 years

Air India, India’s leading airline and a Star Alliance member, is gearing up to play a key role in boosting the freight and cargo ecosystem in India and globally. Initiatives taken in recent times will not only enhance the role of Air India as a major cargo carrier, but also bolster the country’s cargo ecosystem and contribute to the development of an efficient air cargo supply chain accelerating exports from India.

The belly capacity of the Air India fleet will grow significantly over the next few years, with the addition of new wide-body aircraft to its fleet this year and with most aircraft on firm order set to arrive from 2025, complementing India’s manufacturing and export growth. This will have a cascading effect in generating greater employment prospects and boosting various business sectors, while supporting the economy.

The firm orders comprising wide-body aircraft of 34 A350-1000, six A350-900, 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and 10 Boeing 777X wide-body aircraft will increase Air India’s annual cargo capacity by a staggering 300% to 2 million tonnes over the next five years with non-stop connection to key export markets globally.

Air India CEO and MD, Campbell Wilson, said, “At Air India, we see a huge potential in the air cargo industry, which the Indian Government plans to grow to 10 million tonnes by 2030. Our cargo division is implementing a series of strategic measures aimed at fostering growth and strengthening our market presence. The large passenger belly capacity addition will be augmented with the launch of value-added products and services across the network.”

The following significant all-round initiatives across various spectrum of the operational and logistics matrix that will see Air India play a significant role in the air cargo arena.

Adoption of Technology

Latest IT solutions are being integrated to strengthen the use of technology, including blockchain, AI, and drones to optimize productivity. Short-term changes haven been devised in the existing IT Cargo System to enhance efficiency in areas like electronic data interchange, seamless connectivity with trade partners, and real-time updates on flight and shipment status. These advancements will help Air India to deliver a wide range of services with global capabilities viz. pharma logistics, door-to-door logistics with global partners, e-commerce, carriage of valuables, pets, cold chain for perishables, mail, trans-shipment with connection windows, etc.

Investments in Infrastructure

Air India, in collaboration with its joint venture partner SATS, is committed to investing substantial capital expenditure for developing airport and logistics infrastructure. The airline is also exploring possibilities of augmenting freighter capacity in collaboration with partners.

Integrated Cargo Market

Air India is set to launch three 24×7 control centres to integrate and improve customer interface, customer service and operations efficiency. As domestic e-commerce and other business expand in the Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets in India, Air India’s expanding domestic network will add momentum. The integrated network, along with enhanced capacity will provide efficient, streamlined, and cost-effective connectivity in terms of point-to-point transportation to short and long-haul destinations throughout the network.

Expanding Reach

Air India is also proactively expanding its reach through strategic partnerships and collaborations. By strengthening interline partnerships and trucking network connections, the airline aims to foster increased exports. Currently, Air India transports cargo to over 40 international as well as 38 domestic destinations. The airline has also tied up with offline trucking points across the globe to expand its base besides coordinating with and service providers at Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru airports to strengthen trans-shipment efficiency and volume at the main global hubs in India for all forms of trans-shipment.

Capacity to carry diverse products

Air India’s diverse carriage of products and services will be further enhanced with increase in capacity and adoption of technology and help it to strengthen its position at a global stage. Movement and delivery of pharma logistics, door-to-door logistics through global partners, e-commerce, express services, general cargo, valuables, sensitive goods, pet transportation, and personal effects, as well as strengthened cold chain solutions for perishables, among others.