Blue Dart adds 84 tonnes capacity by inducting two Boeing 757s

Mumbai, May 30: Air cargo industry in India today received the much needed boost with Blue Dart announcing induction of two Boeing 757-200 freighters in its fleet.

With the new aircrafts, the Blue Dart Express will be adding 84 tonnes of additional capacity per day, increasing total capacity from 166 to 250 tonnes per night to service the growing demand.

The Boeing 757s are being used for the first time in India to service the air cargo industry.

''With 88 per cent load factor, the Blue Dart badly needed additional capacity to serve the booming air cargo industry, growing at the rate of 17 to 20 per cent, '' said Niteen M Gupte, Managing Director&CEO Blue Dart Aviation Limited.

''With 28 tonne payload each on the two new aircafts, Blue Dart will be tapping the growing distribution requirements of India's booming economy aiming at GDP growth of 10 per cent, '' said Mr Malcolm Monteiro, Managing Director, Blue Dart Express Ltd.

The five metros of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore and the sub metro cities of Hyderabad and Ahmedabad which account for 90 per cent of total air cargo distribution will gain from the addition of 21 route connection to the existing 39, Mr Monteiro said.

The additional freight capacity will benefit Gujarat markets in particular with faster deliveries as a result of our new routes, Mr Monteiro added. The 757 freighter is designed to accept upto 15 pallets with a payload of 28 tonnes on its main deck, and additional freight in its lower holds.

The two Boeing 757s have been acquired on lease for seven years by Blue Dart Aviation from Europe based European Air Transport and Services.

However, the Blue Dart management did not disclose the quantum of money involved in leasing the two aircrafts.

Blue Dart Aviation has an agreement with the Company to utilise its aircraft for dedicated domestic air services.

With arrival of two Boeing 757s Blue Dart fleet now has seven aircrafts.

The company already had a fleet of five Boeing 737 freighters.

In the last calendar year Blue Dart handled 125,000 tonnes of air cargo.

Most of the banks rely on air express service and Blue Dart handles 90 per cent of Bank's requirements, said Tulsi N Mirchandaney, Senior Vice President- Marketing&Projects, Blue Dart Express.

Other sectors served by the company are Drugs&Pharma, Information Technology, Consumer Durables, Garmets etc.

Nokia, Samsung, Lenovo, Ranbaxy and Worckhardt are among the clients of Blue Dart.

UNI