BLR Airport handles 71,406MT cargo from Apr to Jul; increases market share to 15%

August 13, 2020: Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB/ BLR Airport) facilitated shipment of 71,406 metric tonnes (MT) of cargo, including 6,194 MT of perishables and 2,300 MT of pharma supplies between April and July 2020. During this period, BLR Airport’s cargo market share rose to 15.3 percent from 11.2 percent.

While international cargo throughput was 51,728 MT, domestic was 19,678 MT during this period. Of this, perishables, including 507 MT of mangos, were delivered to 31 international destinations. Apart from perishables and pharma, the other freight processed during this period included electronic and engineering equipment, spares and readymade garments.

79 percent growth in cargo aircraft traffic
Before the pandemic, BLR Airport’s cargo volumes were distributed between freighter and passenger aircraft in a 40:60 ratio. However, the lockdown and subsequent restrictions on international scheduled passenger flights impacted cargo movements. Several airlines commenced ‘cargo-only’ flights using passenger aircraft to bolster depressed global airfreight capacity and drive a spike in cargo demand.

About 40 percent of BLR Airport’s cargo during the period April– July 2020, was transported by cargo-only passenger aircraft. As a result, BLR Airport recorded more than 2,990 cargo ATMs, registering a 79 percent growth over the same period last year.

In addition, BLR Airport processed 341 MT of Covid-19-related cargo from March to July.

April to June 2020 saw enriching partnerships emerge between #BLRAirport and our cargo partners. We applaud @QatarAirways Cargo for their achievements in Q1. Here's wishing them continued success.#Bengaluru #Airport #Q1 #Freight #Cargo #CargoIndia #Aviation #India #QatarAirways pic.twitter.com/tddMZYWSGH

— BLR Airport (@BLRAirport) August 12, 2020

Qatar uplifted highest tonnage in Q1
Qatar Airways contributed the highest tonnage uplift of 6,500 MT cargo, including 2,700MT perishables, in Q1 among all airlines at BLR Airport. Qatar also had 208 air traffic movements to BLR Airport, highest among all international freighters.  

Record tonnage on Oman Air’s A330-300
Oman Air set a new record by uplifting 49,593 kgs of perishable cargo from BLR Airport in June. This is the highest ever PTC uplift on an A330-300 single aircraft for both Oman Air as well as BLR Airport. The uplift included vegetables, hatching eggs, fruits and other perishables.

Record tonnage on Emirates SkyCargo’s B777-300ER
Emirates SkyCargo created a record, lifting 73,928 kgs on a Boeing 777-300ER passenger to cargo (P2C) aircraft at BLR Airport; this was a record across its network. The consignment included pharmaceuticals, garments and machinery.

Highest tonnage handled by DHL
DHL handled their highest tonnage of 1,461 MT in the month of June 2020. This is their highest tonnage in a month since their inception at BLR Airport.

Highest tonnage handled by FedEx
FedEx handled their highest tonnage of 1,385 MT in the month of June 2020. This is their highest tonnage in one month since their inception at BLR Airport.

Live organs from Bengaluru to Frankfurt
BLR Airport's Menzies Aviation Bobba Bangalore Cargo Terminal handled a “Live Human Organs (LHO)” shipment during the Covid-19 lockdown. Lufthansa Cargo carried the shipment, which included human blood stem cells and bone marrow to Bengaluru from Frankfurt on May 1, and a similar package was exported back to the same destination on May 16.

LHO consignments are handled with great care and handed over to the captain of the aircraft as C/O (Care Of) crew for special care. The pre-information of such consignments is provided at the destination. On landing at the destination, the captain must deliver the consignment on priority to the handling agency.

There is no special temperature requirement for such consignments as the box is equipped with the required gel pack to maintain temperature. LHOs are generally accompanied by a certified courier (a person carrying the consignment on board a flight), but due to a ban on passenger flights during this lockdown period, freighters were used to transport this precious package.

Ornamental fish from Thailand to Kozhikode
BLR Airport processed a special consignment of 24,200 exotic ornamental fish from Thailand in July. With approvals from Indian Customs & the Animal Quarantine Services, Bengaluru, the Betta splendens and Flower Horn fish were sent to their new home in Kozhikode, Kerala.