Bengaluru airport takes over air cargo from West Tamil Nadu including Tirupur and Coimbatore

Perishable cargo from Western Tamil Nadu is increasing in moving to Bengaluru air cargo terminal since Coimbatore airport struggling with its expansion project for nearly 15 years has hardly a few international flights. The expansion project at Coimbatore airport remains stuck due to land acquisition issues and mindless litigation associated with the exercise.

Consequently perishable cargo has seen a major growth in Kempegowda International airport Bengaluru with the airport processing nearly 18,000 tons of such cargo during the lock down period. Readymade garments from Tirupur, Engineering goods from Coimbatore, leather products from Ambur, pharm and medical supplies are among the exported items from the bengaluru airport.

Road feeder service augmented share of air cargo growth from 11 to 14 per cent

The introduction of road feeder service – LOGI Connect – to link cities like Tirupur, Coimbatore, Ambur, Salem, Erode, and Chennai augmented growth, powering KIA’s all-India market share of air cargo from 11 to 14 per cent.

Perishable cargo has seen a major growth with the airport processing 17,212 MT during this period. Pomegranates, ready-made garments, engineering goods, pharma and medical supplies are among the exported items.

The airport cargo terminals processed 131,603 metric tonnes (MT) freight in the first two quarters of the current financial year. The cargo processed in September was 32,449 MT, a growth 0.3 per cent, against same period last year.” The month also witnessed 4.5 per cent growth in international cargo, of which export cargo grew by 7.6 per cent. Meanwhile, domestic cargo is showing a slower recovery and is 5.2 percent lower than the same period in the previous year, it said.

“Before the pandemic, around 60 per cent of domestic and international freight was being carried in belly space of passenger aircraft and the remainder in freighters. With the reduction in passenger flights, several airlines – both domestic and international – converted passenger flights to cargo aircrafts, enabling the availability of a larger cargo capacity.” This helped the growth of cargo ATMs by 139 per cent against the previous year, the release added.

Kempegowda International Airport has achieved 88 per cent of its pre-Covid domestic connectivity

Kempegowda International Airport has achieved 88 per cent of its pre-Covid domestic connectivity as well as 53% of its air traffic movements (arrivals and departures). “Bengaluru has reconnected 51 domestic destinations, achieving 88 per cent connectivity of the pre-Covid-19 routes according to an official statement issued by the airport authority.

The Government of India’s Vande Bharat Mission and Air Bubble programmes have enabled Bengaluru airport to connect with 22 international destinations. With the gradual easing of restrictions, air traffic movements have witnessed an encouraging trend, recovering 53 per cent of the previous year’s flight movements, following successive measures to unlock India’s economy.” Bengaluru airport has become the first metro city airport to record positive growth in cargo volumes in September 2020, compared to last year.