After a gap of nearly three weeks, cargo uplift by Tiger Airways to Singapore is all set to resume from the Tiruchi international airport.
The cargo uplift, which was temporarily suspended from mid-February, is poised to restart with the Tiger Airways having appointed a new general sales and service agency for cargo handling for Tiruchi and other international airports throughout the country.
An official communication from the Tiger Airways and the new general sales and service agency had been circulated to the Tiruchi airport authorities and other stakeholders in this regard.
The overseas airline had temporarily suspended cargo uplift to Singapore until further orders as the new master general sales agency had not been appointed.
Suspension
The sudden suspension of air cargo uplift directly to Singapore by Tiger Airways hit freight movement from Tiruchi airport causing concern to exporters of the region and other stakeholders.
With the new general sales agency for cargo handling having been appointed now, airport sources say cargo uplift directly to Singapore by the Tiger Airways is most likely to resume in a day or two. This would again pave the way for exporters to despatch cargo directly to Singapore instead of routing it through Kuala Lumpur.
Ever since Tiger Airways stopped lifting cargo from Tiruchi airport from February 12, exporters had to rely on Air Asia flights to despatch cargo from Tiruchi to Singapore via Kuala Lumpur. This was subject to the availability of existing belly space for cargo in Air Asia flights.
About 2.5 tonnes to 3 tonnes of cargo was being lifted directly to Singapore in every Tiger Airways flight prior to the sudden stoppage. Singapore is a major market for exporters of Tiruchi region with perishable commodities such as vegetables and flowers despatched in bulk every day, say the sources.
Tiger Airways operates 10 flights a week from Tiruchi to Singapore with the late night flight serving the exporters better as the perishable commodities would hit the Singapore market the next morning. The resumption of cargo uplift by Tiger Airways soon comes as good news for other stakeholders who were concerned over the overall air cargo export volume from Tiruchi airport following the sudden suspension of lifting of goods by the overseas carrier.
About 3 tonnes of cargo lifted directly to Singapore daily
Tiger Airways operates 10 flights a week from Tiruchi to Singapore
