FedEx Express, a subsidiary of world's largest express cargo company FedEx Corp, on Wednesday announced the launch of its direct services from India to China, giving a further boost to trade ties between the two countries.
The newly dedicated cargo flight, to be operated with an Airbus 310 aircraft five times a week, will connect its Asia Pacific hub at Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou in Southern China with Mumbai and New Delhi. “This flight would provide direct communication from India to Asia,an improved transit time, and 160 tonnes of cargo a week. The new flight will offer Indian businesses the benefits of additional outbound capacity to Asia,'' FedEx Express India, vice-resident Kenneth F. Koval said.
He said FedEx had decided to operate 31 flights a week from India, 15 from New Delhi, 11 from Mumbai and five from Bangalore to key Asian markets such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan andgapore, apart from 331 destinations worldwide. The flight will provide greater connectivity between Delhi and Asia and further boost trade between India and the Asia Pacific region. The APAC region is India's largest region for trade and contributed around 27 per cent of India's exports and 32 per cent of India's imports, Mr. Koval said. China was also India's largest trading partner with bilateral trade expected to cross $60 billion this year as compared to $42.42 billion in 2009-10, he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
FedEx Express Managing Director, (India operations), Taarek Hinedi, said the company would be acquiring 11 Boeing-777 aircraft under its global fleet strengthening plan. FedEx has been operating a direct Delhi-Shanghai service since 2005 and its new flight from Bangalore establishes direct connections between key markets in South India to Europe the Middle East and the US, he said.