SpiceJet Bets Big On Air-Cargo Business: Becomes First Indian Airline To Operate Non-Stop Cargo Flight To Europe

Spicejet has become the first Indian airline to operate non-stop long-haul cargo services from Europe to India on a dedicated freighter as the airline looks to reinvent its business model to survive and thrive in the battered domestic and international aviation sector, reports Hindustan Times.

The airline on Saturday (22 August) operated a wide-body Airbus A340 aircraft as a direct flight from the Netherlands to Mumbai, carrying 13 tonnes of cargo supplies. The same plane will today (23 August) be taking off from Mumbai to Sudanese city of Khartoum carrying 40 tonnes of international cargo. This would mark the airline's first direct flight to Africa.

It should be noted that the airline has operated over 5,764 cargo flights and transported over 31,800 tonnes of cargo, which as per the airline, is more than double of all other airlines combined. These cargoes include medicines, medical equipment, fruits and vegetables carried across India and also abroad since 25 March.

The airline has been betting big on air cargo business and its induction of the wide-body A340 aircraft comes as a booster to the same. With the aircraft in its fleet, the airline can easily operate non-stop cargo flights to destinations across the globe, including Europe, Africa and CIS countries.