Budget carrier SpiceJet has started 14 new cargo flights to and from the Northeast region using its Bombardier Q400 freighters.
The dedicated cargo flights will help transport fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, perishables, fish seeds, fresh fish, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, express cargo and other general cargo. Besides improving logistics and connectivity, the new freighter service will boost the growth of trade in the Northeast markets.
The airline will operate daily cargo flights on Kolkata-Guwahati, Guwahati-Kolkata, Kolkata-Imphal and Imphal-Kolkata sectors.
SpiceJet has also introduced cargo flights between Kolkata and Guwahati via Aizawl and Dimapur which will operate twice-a-week.
The airline will also operate cargo flights on the Kolkata-Agartala and Agartala-Guwahati sectors thrice-a-week and twice-a-week on Kolkata-Silchar and Silchar-Guwahati routes.
SpiceJet connects Guwahati with key cities across the country including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Patna, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Amritsar and has been transporting cargo both to and from the capital of Assam using the belly space of its passenger aircraft.
Commenting on the initiative, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said: “The initiative will provide a big boost to traders and business houses in Assam and Northeast, a region that has such terrific growth potential. Farmers from the region can now transport their fresh farm produce across the country and internationally also.”
Ajay Singh, chairman & managing director, SpiceJet, said: “I am delighted to announce the launch of our dedicated cargo flights across various cities in Northeast India. Our dedicated cargo service will provide the quickest access to farmers and businesses in the Northeast to transport their goods to the rest of the country while at the same time facilitating easy transportation of essential cargo to the region.”
SpiceJet operates a fleet of 13 cargo aircraft including two wide-body planes and is the only Indian carrier to operate long-haul cargo flights to Europe.
