Quick implementation of NCAP measures: AISATS

“As National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) is reaching its final stages, we look forward to faster implementation of the measures outlined in the policy which will give an overall boost to the aviation industry. As India requires more operational airports, to meet the ever increasing demand of passenger and cargo, we await announcements on development or rehabilitation of airports to benefit domestic and international trade,” says Mike Chew, CEO, AISATS.
“Indian airports serve as a transfer hub for various intercontinental routes such as Europe – Australia and Europe – South East Asia. But the transshipment route has not been explored to its full potential. This is a disadvantage when competing in the global market and impedes the capture of intercontinental traffic. Also as the consumers are becoming more discerning, on time delivery of goods has gained much more importance than ever before. As mentioned in the draft policy, we would expect shaping up of few steps such as setting up of Free Trade and Warehousing Zones to facilitate transshipment cargo and expediting development of necessary infrastructure for Express Delivery Services (EDS) to cope up with double digit growth in e-commerce,” he continues.
“As air cargo is the barometer for country’s economic health, we expect that the upcoming Union Budget 2017-18 to have provisions to accommodate decisions on few key elements such as infrastructure status to cargo facilities, tax benefits to air cargo operators and freight forwarders, incentives on capex for developing cargo handling facilities, streamlining and simplifying of custom procedures, shifting to paper-less air cargo, allocation of more space for cargo at the airports, availability of all relevant central government authorities through a single window at the cargo terminals, 24×7 custom operations which would definitely give thrust to domestic and international air cargo movement,” stresses Chew.