‘On int’l routes, Etihad Airways, Thai Airways may take over as these won’t require extra fuel’

Sunil Kohli, MD, Rahat Cargo said, “The closure of Pakistan airspace is bound to result in a considerable negative impact on both domestic and international cargo movement thereby consequently resulting in enhanced flight durations and resultant cost escalation on fuel. The longer time taken during the flight operations may adversely affect perishable goods and pharmaceutical shipments since these are time-sensitive with limited shelf-lives. An intake of increased fuel due to longer flight paths may further shrink the cargo capacity. On international routes, some of the airlines, which do not face space closure such as Etihad Airways, Thai Airways & few more, may derive an advantage over the Indian carriers as these won’t require extra fuel without reduction in their space for cargo especially on India-Europe & Gulf sectors. The Indian airlines operating to US/Canada routes may also have to opt for technical halts en-route for refuelling which entail higher costs with pruned cargo capacity. As regards an increase in the airfreights by Indian carriers, it has not yet been overtly done on a published basis. However, due to lesser cargo capacity being available to the exporters, the spot rates offered by the airlines as per practice evidently reflect an escalation justifying the longer routes requiring additional fuel coupled with the vital factor – higher demand & lesser space.