Date:29/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/29/stories/2007112951190200.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Crescent Air to run cargo operations from Vizag

Staff Reporter

The airline owns a Fokker 50 freighter
Proposes to tap potential in niche segments

VISAKHAPATNAM: Chennai-based Crescent Air Cargo has announced that it will commence its freight operations on the Visakhapatnam-Chennai-Kolkata sector soon. “Vizag market has a lot of potential.

Our services would be immensely beneficial for the growing markets of shrimp, tuna exports, garment industry and other perishable goods,” CEO of Crescent Air Cargo Capt. Murali Ram said here at a press meet on Wednesday.

The airline presently owns and operates a Fokker 50 freighter which has a load capacity of seven tons.

The airline plans to expand its fleet by adding two more Fokker 50 freighters by March 2008. Crescent Air proposes to tap the potential in niche segments of the domestic air cargo markets and also envisages extending its services to the neighbouring countries, Mr. Murali said.

President of Air Travellers’ Association of India Varada Reddy said that the city has immense potential. Expansion, modernisation and night landing facility in the airport are the pre-requisites for the development of the port city and attracting investments.

“Many international airways have also evinced interest in starting their operations here. Once the new terminal gets operational, we plan to convert the existing terminal into an exclusive air cargo terminal,” he said.