Intnl frieght handling soars

Intl freight handling at airport soarsPublished Date: 2/14/2006 - (NIE)V AyyappanChennai, Feb 13: Chennai airport is fast emerging as a gateway for international freight as it has registered a major increase in import and export cargo in 2005-06. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has listed the airport among the seven airports where there was a substantial jump in freight traffic.According to statistics, there is a 13.9 percent increase in international freight traffic in Chennai during April-November 2005-06 as compared to the previous year.This was achieved when there was just a 9.6 percent increase in the freight traffic, from 838.81 thousand tonnes to 919.17 thousand tonnes, registered during April-November 2005-06 as compared to April-November 2004-05.‘‘The increase in international freight traffic is because of two reasons – relaxing of import and export restrictions and peaking industrial investment in Tamil Nadu, especially in Chennai and its surrounding areas,’’ sources said. P K Reddy, Deputy General Manager (Cargo), Chennai International Airport said the maximum growth was because of the industrial development.This had led to a flurry of imports and the materials vary from machine and automobile parts to personal effects, he said, adding that manufacturing companies had started importing machine parts, electronic items and pre-assembled parts for their factories.‘‘Chennai airport has come a long way from the days when only finished leather and textiles were exported. Now, the government is encouraging export of value added products. Hence, finished leather products and apparels are increasingly exported,’’ said an airline official.Ramalingam, Regional Executive Director, Southern Region, AAI said: ‘‘Chennai has always recorded a growth in freight traffic along with Hyderabad and Bangalore. This is because the city is becoming a preferred destination for airlines, with the number of airlines operating to and from the airport going up. Plans are on to de-congest the airport by developing tier two airports in smaller cities.’’Air France and Singapore Airlines operate freighter services while new freighter services were launched by Etihad Crystal Cargo, commercial wing of UAE’s national carrier. With one of the major apparel manufacturing centres located in Tirupur, garments and fabrics form 70 percent of the export through Chennai airport. While perishables including fish, crabs and vegetables exported to South East Asian countries account for 10 percent of the exports, the rest comprise manufacturing parts, machine tools and automotive materials.Export cargo of six major airlines – Air France, Cargolux, Swiss Air, Lufthansa, Blue Dart Aviation and Jet Airways is handled by the AAI. While export cargo of British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Alitalia, Saudia, Gulf Air, Malaysian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Sri Lankan and Emirates is handled by Air India. The export cargo of remaining airlines, including Oman Air is handled by Indian Airlines.