SpiceJet will launch freighter services to Afghanistan in October after taking delivery of its first all-cargo aircraft.
The flights, which will be operated by its SpiceExpress cargo division, will begin on October 15 flying between Delhi and Kabul with volumes expected to reach around 1,500 tons per month.
The flights come after SpiceJet signed a memorandum of understanding with Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI).
Cargo to be carried on the flights include fresh fruits and dry fruits, carpets and other commodities.
The airline took deliver of its first freighter – a Boeing 737-700F - earlier this month. It plans to add a further B737-700F and two B737-800Fs to the fleet during the 2019 financial year.
Flights will begin on September 18 and will initially operate to Delhi, Bengaluru, Amristar, Guwahati, Kabul and Hong Kong.
“With the induction of freighters, the airline is all set to strengthen its footprint whilst offering safe, on-time, efficient and seamless air cargo connectivity across India, Asia and Europe,” SpiceJet said.
“SpiceJet will offer direct freighter operations powered by its fully integrated transportation network including air cargo, ground transportation and warehousing facilities across the country.
“The current cargo capacity of SpiceJet’s existing fleet is about 500 tonnes per day and with the launch of the dedicated freighter service this capacity would go up to 900 tonnes a day in a phased manner with the addition of four freighters by March 2019.”
SpiceJet currently offers cargo capacity on its passenger aircraft fleet of 36 Boeing and 22 Q400s operating across 47 domestic and 7 international destinations.
The addition of freighters will allow it to offer cargo flights to 60 domestic destinations by the end of this year.
“SpiceJet aims to further ramp up this competence servicing up to 150 destinations across India, Asia and Europe by 2022,” the airline added.
The first freighter flight between India and Afghanistan just over a year ago.
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