| Rupert Bray, Cathay Pacific country manager (India, Nepal & Bangladesh), confirmed that the airlines is in talks with a leading logistics company and will make a formal announcement soon. However, Bray declined to divulge further details of the deal. |
| "The objective behind launching a trucking network is to connect all other key destinations to Mumbai and Delhi, where we operate our dedicated freighters," Bray said. |
| At present, Cathay Pacific operates three services from Delhi to Hong Kong with Boeing 747-400 freighter and three services from Delhi to Paris with Boeing 747-200 freighter. |
| At present, the airline generates 30 per cent of its revenue from cargo operations. It uplifts 20 tonne on each passenger aircraft and over 100 tonne on every freighter. |
| Meanwhile, the airline is also planning to increase the cargo carrying capacity to and from India by 233 per cent. Bray pointed out that the company would add one more freighter in the Hong Kong-Mumbai-Paris route by early September and two more in the Hong Kong-Delhi-Dubai route by August. |
| "We plan to induct new direct India-Hong Kong freighter flights by June, subject to the approval of the Indian government. All freighters will be Boeing 747-400 aircraft," Bray said. |
| James Barrington, Cathay Pacific director (sales and marketing), said the airline is looking to launch more flights to India. It is in talks with the government to secure rights. |
| According to sources, the airline is keen on starting services from Bangalore and Chennai. Cathay Pacific, part of the Swire Pacific group, currently flies four times a week from Delhi to Hong Kong and four times a week Mumbai to Hong Kong via Bangkok. |
| From Mumbai, Cathay Pacific also flies four times a week to Dubai. |
| "The airline has showed an overall 56 per cent growth. Passenger sales drew Rs 300 crore in 2005, which was one of our most successful years," Barrington said. |
Top Section
Explore Business Standard