China Airlines of Taiwan, on Wednesday, announced the launch of its bi-weekly freighter service to Chennai.
“This is a very valuable route,” China Airlines Senior Vice-President Brian Chou said, about the Taipei-Kuala Lumpur-Chennai-Luxemburg service. The stopover here, on Wednesday and Sunday mornings, would be for 2 hours and 10 minutes. In the return direction, from Luxemburg, the freighter would directly go to Taipei.
Briefing press persons here on Wednesday, he said the service would further strengthen the ties between Taiwan and India. The service, Mr. Chou explained, was important for Indian exim trade as it connected Luxemburg, a hub for cargo to all destinations in Europe and Taipei, which provides connections to 25 locations in mainland China. Kuala Lumpur, he added, attracts cargo from Indonesia and other South East Asian countries.
B-747-400F aircraft, made for transporting cargo and not modified, were being used. On the potential, he said the growing market in India offered considerable scope and the airline would like to increase the service to thrice a week subject to reduction in aviation fuel prices. The export-import items would include electronics, garments and mobiles.
On the China Airlines' freight service to Delhi, Paul Hsueh, General Manager, Cargo Marketing and Planning Department, said it was stopped about two months ago. The airline, however, continues to operate its passenger service to Delhi.
China Airlines fleet includes 72 aircraft, of which 21 are freighters. The total revenue is around $3.5 billion, of which $1.5 billion comes from cargo transportation. The airline operates 90 freighter flights every week.
At a function, Economic Counsellor and Director (Economic Division) at the Taipei Economic & Cultural Centre David Hsu said the two-way trade between Taiwan and India last year was $7.5 billion. Much of the Taiwanese investment of $1 billion was in Chennai.
