- China’s Sichuan Airlines will operate its freighter service for the first time in India from Delhi Airport
- The airline’s freighter services will operate twice a week from China’s Shaanxi Province to New Delhi
New Delhi: Sichuan Airlines (CSC), one of China’s major airlines, commenced their freighter aircraft operation from Delhi Airport this week, announced GMR-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).
Sichuan Airlines’ freighter services, which will commence twice a week from China’s Shaanxi Province (XIY) to Delhi and return to Chengdu (CTU) is a significant development as it will provide businesses of North India faster access to the markets in China.
“Delhi has emerged as a cargo hub for businesses in North India and neighbouring countries. This new route offered by Sichuan Airlines will give a significant impetus to the air cargo and regional logistics sectors with enhanced connectivity to China region,” says, Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO-DIAL.
Edward Zhou, Freighter Sales Department of Sichuan Airlines Logistics said, “This is the first time for us not only to operate our freighter service to India but also to initiate cargo business in the country. It is a significant development, especially since we will be operating the A330-200 freighter. The opening of this route will contribute to the development of the trade and transit potential between these two countries.”
Delhi Airport is India’s largest and busiest airport with a cargo handling capacity of over 1.8 million MT annually, which is scalable to 2.3 million MT. In FY’19, the airport reached a new milestone by handling the highest ever cargo of over 1 million MT in India.
Apart from this, DAIL with its dedicated temperature control facility also provides the end-to-end temperature-controlled supply chain with a capacity of around 1.5 lakh MT for perishable and pharma cargo annually.
Delhi Airport has the largest airline network connecting 75 international and 69 domestic destinations served by 63 air carriers and 17 freighter airlines.
