AAI NER starts domestic freighter services at Aizawl, Mizoram

New Delhi/Guwahati: Airports Authority of India (AAI) at North East Region is focusing on promoting local products and the farm products to the outside world apart from building and maintaining aviation Infrastructure in the region. Enhancing one such move, operated by domestic carrier Spicejet, on August 25 the first domestic dedicated freighter landed at Aizawl in Mizoram. Lauding the efforts of the AAI and the cargo wing- Airports Authority of India Cargo Logistic & Allied Services Limited, AAI's Regional Executive Director Sanjeev Jindal AAI said, "it was one of my wishes that has come true today after a dedicated domestic freighter started its services in North East Region."

"Under the Krishi-Udan scheme, the services have been started in the region and it is aimed to benefit the local farmers and villagers whose products have higher value outside and the motive is that they should be paid as per the demand services," he added. Spicejet's freighter Q 400 arrived from Kolkata bringing 5,800 kg air cargo. The weekly cargo service will be available from Lengpui to Kolkata and to other cities of North East India depending on the potentiality of air cargo in the area. The services of Spicejet's dedicated freighters are presently available at the Lengpui Airport and Guwahati Airport connecting through Kolkata, West Bengal.

The previous first freighter, again from Spicejet, operated from LGBI Airport Guwahati to Hong-Kong on January 19 and January 26, 2019, consisting of fruit and veggies sourced from the local area and adjacent districts of Assam. The customs, EDI and Plant quarantine services are also available at Guwahati Airport. In return, outgoing cargo flight from Mizoram, a different type of local products such as Orange, lemon, banana, ginger, pineapple and cut flowers were loaded.

North East is known for its rich green and organic farm products which have demand in domestic as well as international market, the need is to connect them with fastest cargo services with affordable freighter rates, as most of the perishable products are wasted due to lack of storage and connectivity within the fix time-frame or the shelf life of the products.

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