MDLR aims to be first private cargo airline

18 October, 2007:

In an attempt to become the first private carrier to launch freighter service in India, MDLR Airlines which is on a steady growth path, plans to foray into the aircargo business in the country.

The airline plans to start off with a wide-body aircraft by end 2007. The airline has already embarked on carrying out test marketing for its proposed cargo business. A report quoting MDLR Cargo Vice-President Rajendra Dubey said that the operations would be from Southeast Asian destinations to India. The airline plans to start with four flights a week.

MDLR Air had started off passenger flights with an initial fleet of two four-engined Avro jets of British Aerospace, in April this year. The airline now flies between destinations like Delhi, Ranchi, Kolkata, Jodhpur and Chandigarh. Jaipur would be added to the list on October 22, 2007.

The company, which had started passenger airline operations just six months ago, has said that its proposed cargo division would be set up as a separate company with an initial equity capital of Rs 1 crore. The group has a total investment plan of Rs 25 crore over the next several years, it said.

In the next few years, the company expects its cargo fleet to go up to around 15 aircraft. The airline also plans to launch cargo flights to the US and Europe. MDLR Airlines had, in fact been in talks with aircraft manufacturers in this regard.