Ajay Singh-promoted SpiceJet is expanding its cargo operations at a rapid pace, both domestically and internationally, filing the huge vacuum resulting from the suspension of flight and railway operations during the lockdown.
The airline major operated 26 cargo flights on May 5, which included 12 cargo-on-seat flights.
SpiceJet had operated the country's first cargo-on-seat flight on April 7 and has since then been regularly deploying its B737 and Q400 passenger aircraft to carry cargo in the passenger cabin.
Till date the airline has ferried some 5,617 tons of cargo since March 25 on more than 775 flights since the lockdown began. Of the 775 flights operated, 283 were international cargo flights.
According to Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh: "SpiceJet is committed to ensuring that crucial medical and other supplies are transported timely and efficiently by our dedicated fleet of freighters and passenger aircraft."
"We are now operating regularly to around 20 international destinations carrying essential and medical supplies. Securing the supply chain is extremely important in these unpredicted times and we are glad that we have been able to maintain the mobility of vital supplies with ease, both domestic ally and internationally."
The airline has operated special cargo flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok, Colombo, Dubai, Kabul, Myanmar, Sharjah, Male, Kuala Lumpur, Guangzhou, Bahrain, Ukraine and a host of other places.
SpiceXpress, SpiceJet's dedicated cargo arm, has been regularly transporting surgical supplies, sanitisers, face masks, coronavirus rapid test kits, IR thermometers etc. and providing doorstep deliveries of essential supplies, medicines and medical equipment to various cities in India. The airline has helped Indian farmers maintain continuity of their supply chains by operating special cargo flights to take farm produce, fresh fruits and vegetables to various domestic and international destinations.
( With inputs from IANS )