Freight traffic is one area that national carrier Air India is currently looking at currently. The company has hinted at mega plans in the freight segment.

According to reports, AI is all set to introduce two freight carriers to Frankfurt, Paris and Shanghai from Bangalore and Mumbai by in June-July. The national carrier would soon have a fleet of at least 15 dedicated freight carriers, including eight A 310s, two Boeing 747-300s and five Boeing 737-200s, besides an option to take two Boeing 747-400s on lease, said the AI top brass.

There carrier aims at having a fleet of short-haul and medium-haul cargo craft. . While the short haul planes will be used in the domestic circuit, the medium haul craft will be deployed for the European sector. AI also has plans to deploy long-haul aircraft for the US market. The airline looks at to pushing up its market share in the international cargo traffic from 10 per cent to 30 per cent after deploying 15 dedicated aircraft. With this in mind, two A-310s had already been despatched to Germany for configuration from passenger craft to cargo craft, said reports quoting Air India CMD V Thulasidas. At least six more are to follow, added reports.

With the new service being put in place, AI is expected to up its share of international cargo from the present 125 tonnes a month to at least 300 tonnes from Bangalore, he added. The airline also kick started a 50:50 joint venture with the Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS), at the Bangalore International Airport recently. The SATS joint venture would continue for the ground handling facility at the Hyderabad International Airport too, its has been reported.