Leading global cargo service provider FedEx Express has launched the new intercontinental flight route with a newly acquired Boeing 777F aircraft to provide better international connection to Indian cargo business.
“We are getting heavy cargo demands from northern India in businesses like automobile, fashion, gems and jewellery, hi-tech goods. The businesses in this market are witnessing a double-digit growth, for which there is a demand for increased cargo space,” FedEx Express India Vice-President (Operations) Kenneth F Koval said.
Deployment of the new Boeing 777F is aimed at meeting this demand, as it would offer improved revenue payload capacity of 81 metric tonnes over the 71 metric tonnes offered by MD 11s, the primary long haul aircraft in the company’s fleet.
“The aircraft would offer improved payload capacity thus addressing the growing need for additional space as well as offering unparallelled connectivity to our customers in India,” Mr. Koval said.
The company will be operating 5 flights per week on the US-Dubai-Delhi-Paris-US routes.
This would also provide better opportunities for US businesses to connect directly with Middle East and India, he added.
The world’s largest twin-engine cargo plane offers operational efficiencies as well as greater fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions as it consumes 18 per cent less fuel than MD 11s. Also, it is capable of flying 5,800 nautical miles.
“The company has acquired 12 Boeing 777F and by the end of 2019 fiscal, the number would increase to 44. This would help FedEx reduce fuel emissions by 20 per cent by the year 2020,” Mr. Koval said.
Earlier this year, the company had launched five weekly direct flights between India and China to strengthen the flourishing trade lane between India and Asia.
The company, which has over 4,000 employees, has registered 30 per cent growth on international cargo business.
FedEx Express last year launched one of its high yielding trade lanes between Europe and Hong Kong.
In a bid to get hold of Indian market, FedEx focused on inorganic growth by acquiring PAFEX few years back and now AFL and UFL cargo businesses.
