BA Cargo to focus on emerging sectors

Jewellery, pharma also targetted

British Airways (BA) World Cargo, which is commencing its Bangalore-London services from October 30 is planning to tap the emerging sectors like gold and diamond jewellery, floriculture, tissue culture and high value pharmaceuticals.

The new Bangalore services are one of many important investments announced by BA World Cargo following its unprecedented volume growth of 30 per cent in the region during 2005.

"By focussing on the emerging sectors, Bangalore hub will allow Chennai to focus on fast growing core sectors like apparel, auto components and engineering goods in addition to fresh fish and leather goods," Kamal Kikani, commercial manager, India and Nepal, BA World Cargo told Business Standard.

By launching Bangalore operations, the new services will provide additional belly-hold capacity into South India's fastest growing commercial hub and also extend the carrier's reach to Hyderabad as well, he added.

Currently, British Airways World Cargo carries 25,000 tonnes from India and has plans to hike it to 42,000 tonnes during April 2006 and March 2007.

Focusing sector specific cargo handling, the airways from New Delhi in the northern hub lifts readymade garments, handicrafts and couriers. From Mumbai, commodities, gems and jewellery, light engineering, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, hazardous goods and heavy project engineering goods.

In the East with Kolkata as base it lifts light engineering goods, leather products, exotic Kalimpong flowers and mica.

British Airways World Cargo, with an eye to be an early operator from new Bangalore international airport, is setting its base in the city.

"Also the city having 10,000 varied industries and a population of over six million, is a key market for BA World Cargo and an ideal location for expanding the carrier's network into South India," said Kikani.

"The new flights complement our existing schedule and road feeder service, with Bangalore becoming the fifth destination to be served directly from London. These new services will accommodate the ever-increasing volumes of cargo in the region and offer our customers unprecedented networking capabilities across the country," he added.

The carrier also announced that it will increase the frequency of main line flights to Chennai from twice to six weekly and will double daily line flights to Mumbai from October 30, 2005.

These changes will create mini hubs in Mumbai and Delhi, enabling BA World Cargo to process freight from the sub-continent and other Asian countries.

In addition, BA World Cargo is also planning to expand its pan-Indian trucking service with additional key routes in north India.