Air India enters freighter market

Air India enters freighter market Air India has begun freighter service to Europe, converting two A310 passenger aircraft into freighters at a cost of about $8 million each.
   They will make four trips a week from Bombay via Bangalore and Chennai to Frankfurt and Paris.
   Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Shri. Praful Patel called the first flight this week “a major milestone achieved not only in Air India’s history, but also in the history of Indian civil aviation.”
   “Cargo is one of the key components of the nation’s economic growth. Our vision is to make Air India a preferred cargo carrier in the years to come,” he said.
   Air India said its current market share in the export segment is 9 percent to 11 percent, while the import segment is 5 percent to 7 percent.