Cathay Pacific launches freighter service from Hyderabad

Hyderabad May 17:

Cathay Pacific on Thursday commenced its new freighter service from Hyderabad, connecting the city to 44 destinations world wide through Hong Kong.

The service will initially be twice a week. It will operate on a Hong Kong-Delhi-Bangalore- Hyderabad- Hong Kong route every Thursday and a Hong Kong-Chennai-Hyderabad- Hong Kong every Sunday.

This is the airline's fifth air cargo port in India, after it connected Bangalore last month and before that Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.

The airline sees India as a potential cargo hub in this part of the world after China, as it evaluates other potential domestic airports that could be linked to its global network.

Mr Nick Rhodes, Cathay Pacific Director (Cargo), said the airline's revenues from cargo operations in India contributed to 28 per cent of its total revenues from the country.

“We see India as an emerging cargo market. To start with, we are increasing the frequency of our Bangalore service to thrice a week from next week,” he told media persons here.

Globally, the airline carries about 1.2 million tonnes of cargo annually, with the throughput from India being about 54,000 tonnes (only export cargo). It has a fleet of 25 Boeing 747 freighters.

“We are adding five 747-8s to our global fleet, the first of which will be delivered in July this year. While another two will be delivered later this year, the other two will join our fleet next year,” Mr Rhodes said.

He said the airline was evaluating new air cargo routes from India, with Ahmedabad being next on its radar.

The Hyderabad service is expected to help export of pharma products from here, as it connects the Hong Kong hub, where the airline is developing its own terminal at a cost of $ 750 million.

The Hyderabad international airport has a modular integrated cargo facility designed to handle 1.5 lakh tonnes of cargo annually, apart from India's only dedicated pharmaceutical handling facility that offers ‘truck-dock to airside temperature controlled environment' for handling these products.

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