The Air Cargo opportunity in the Vizag and greater Visakhapatnam region has always been of immense potential keeping in mind the sizeable presence of shrimp, pharma and textile industries in and around this vicinity.
Despite the huge promise this sunrise sector holds it has unfortunately never taken off as one would expected it to.
Things however might well change with the new Airport director giving it top priority.
‘The operations and management contract for the air cargo terminal has now been awarded to Omega enterprises and they shall soon start their operations in about a month’s time’ said Vizag’s airport director, Mr Raja Reddy speaking exclusively to Vizag Industrial Scan.
The new operator is said to be currently in process of getting all the infrastructure in place for functioning of the air cargo terminal.
Currently only Indigo caters to the outbound air cargo from Vizag airport wherein cargo is carried in the belly of the aircraft while inbound cargo is brought in from other airlines too.
On an average an estimated 12 tonnes of cargo is said to be handled on a daily basis. Some of the key items transported (outbound) include frozen shrimps, pharma, auto parts and textiles.
‘With the air cargo contract now being awarded Vizag airport shall soon become ready for full-fledged cargo operations by this year-end’ noted Mr Raja Reddy.
He further informed that with the O&M operator being in place all airlines will be able to utilize the region’s untapped air cargo potential.
Some of the other domestic airlines operating from Vizag airport include Air Asia, Air India, Spicejet and IndiaOne Air.
Moreover Mr Raja Reddy is confident that by end of this calendar year International cargo operations shall start too.
‘We are also looking to restart our international air cargo operations by this year-end which will be operated by AAI class’ informed the airport director.
Currently Scoot airlines is the only international airline which operates from Vizag going to Singapore. International air cargo shall include bonded cargo too which is said to have more volumes.
Recently Lok Sabha member Mr. M.V.V. Satyanarayana assured the Airport Advisory Committee members that he will take up pending issues relating to the international cargo terminal, increase slots for commercial flights during peak hours, restoration of direct connectivity to Dubai, & early inauguration of development works at the airport.
