IndiGo transports 4142 oxygen concentrators in

 IndiGo transports 4142 oxygen concentrators in
and across the country to ease shortage

In-line with its spirit to support the nation in these difficult times, IndiGo - India’s leading carrier, has transported a total of 4142 oxygen concentrators weighing about 72461.5 kg, within and across the country. Out of the total oxygen concentrators, as many as 2717 have been airlifted from Thailand, China, Qatar, Hong Kong, and Singapore to India, while 1425 oxygen concentrators have been transported domestically between 36 airports. A massive load of other medical supplies was also flown in with the help of IndiGo CarGo team, to support the country amidst the shortage of medical equipment in the wake of a severe second wave.

Mr. Ronojoy Dutta, Chief Executive Officer and Wholetime Director, IndiGo said, “We recognize that having access to oxygen concentrators and oxygen cylinders has become a life and death situation for many of our fellow countrymen. In this crisis situation IndiGo is going all out, pursuing every lead, responding to each request, using our offices in every country to scour for oxygen concentrators and cylinders and transporting them to our cities and towns. We will leave no stone unturned in utilizing our aircraft and our highly trained, dedicated employees to secure this critical resource at this time of need”.

The flight 6E1702 airlifted a total of 20 pieces of CarGo from Doha to Delhi on Apr 30, 2021, while flight 6E9657, 6E9691 airlifted a total of 808 pcs of CarGo from Hong Kong to Delhi. Flight 6E9650, 6E9802/7302 and 6E9024 transported 36, 1851 and 02 pieces from Bangkok, Guangzhou, and Singapore to Delhi, respectively.

IndiGo has also transported a total of 1,60,596 kg of COVID vaccine shipments between January 12 to May 03, 2021. The airline will continue to fly in oxygen concentrators to and within the country to ease the shortage of medical equipment.

IndiGo signs LOI to bring Freighters on board

 IndiGo signs LOI to bring Freighters on board

Building on the success of the CarGo business in recent years, IndiGo - India’s leading carrier – has initiated a freighter programme and is in the process of sourcing 4 A321ceo aircraft each of which will be converted from passenger jets to a full freighter configuration.  A Letter of Intent has been signed with a lessor for two aircraft already, and IndiGo expects to reach agreement for the next two shortly.  The initiative will make best use of the natural synergies that IndiGo offers, using the same pool of pilots and engineers that fly and service its current fleet.

The A321P2F (Passenger-to-Freighter conversion) is the most efficient narrow-bodied freighter available, offering 24 container positions and supporting a payload of up to 27 tonnes. These are being converted through a programme involving ST Engineering and Airbus with their joint venture, Elbe FlugzeugWerke (EFW).

IndiGo is expected to take the delivery of its first freighter in the first half of 2022, which will be used for both domestic and regional missions. The remaining three aircraft in the initial commitment are expected to arrive within a year or so from arrival of our first freighter, and further aircraft may be sourced depending on market development. 

Mr. Ronojoy Dutta, Chief Executive Officer and Wholetime Director, IndiGo said, “CarGo has been a success story over the last year, scaling new heights and creating new records, but our belief in the cargo business goes beyond the special circumstances right now. IndiGo was already the largest carrier of cargo in domestic India before Covid-19, and we expect the market to continue to grow after the pandemic.  Our investment in the Airbus Freighter Programme will help strengthen our product and services in the segment, and not only help accelerate our own business recovery but also be a strong engine of economic growth for the country.”

IndiGo achieves its next milestone

IndiGo achieves its next milestone; operates 50,000 flights since lockdown

IndiGo, India’s largest Airline, marked the completion of 50,000 flights since lockdown till September 12, 2020. The tally includes scheduled commercial operations, passenger charters, CarGo charters, Air Bubble flights, and repatriation flights under the Vande Bharat programme. All these fights were operated while adhering to all the precautionary measures. During this period, the airline has operated 47865 domestic flights across India and 1799 international flights to destinations spanning across Middle East, Central Asia, South-East Asia and South Asia region. IndiGo touched this milestone with the operations of 6E 494 from Delhi to Patna this morning.

Mr. Ronojoy Dutta, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, “From our first relief flight to Jodhpur and our first passenger charter flight to Maldives, we are proud to be an integral part in supporting India’s growth for its economy and its employment via our operations. We are pleased to see an uptick in travel demand, with IndiGo reaching a milestone of 50,000 flights since lockdown till today. We have experienced gradual increase in demand and confidence, in air travel, evidenced by steadily rising indicators like PLF, unit revenue and future bookings. Going by the current trend, we are hopeful of achieving 60% of our pre-covid operational capacity by Diwali. We will continue to adapt our business to the needs of the hour”.

Being the leading CarGo operator in domestic market, IndiGo also operated 1700 CarGo flights over the last 5 months and transporting over 14300 MT of CarGo between April to September 2020, clocking in the highest net monthly revenue in August 2020 from CarGo operations despite an operational capacity of only 32 per cent. Additionally, IndiGo operations enabled the repatriation of 1,50,000 citizens to and from India, who were stranded due to the pandemic, till August 2020.

IndiGo CarGo operations on a high

IndiGo CarGo operations on a high, with over 1700 charters since April

IndiGo generated highest ever monthly net revenue in Aug’20 at only 32%
operational capacity

 

In-line with its mission to support the nation, IndiGo operated over 1700 CarGo charters, transporting more than 14300 MT of supplies since 18th April’20 till 07th September’20. The CarGo charter flights operated across 21 destinations within India and internationally, including new stations like Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, Cairo in Egypt, Almaty in Kazakhstan and Tashkent in Uzbekistan. IndiGo operated these flights while adhering to all the precautionary measures.

IndiGo has already transported CarGo equivalent to the loads carried in the last financial year, within the last five months at limited capacity. The airline has in fact earned marginally higher revenue over these months as compared to the earnings over the last financial year. Furthermore, at only 32% of operations in Aug’20, IndiGo successfully managed to generate highest ever monthly net revenue with January being the last top earning month.

Mr. Ronojoy Dutta, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, “The COVID-induced lockdown this year not only posed a challenge for our business but also turned out to be an opportunity for the CarGo vertical. We operated passenger flights in ‘freighter mode’ with CarGo secured in the cabins, to domestic and international stations. We have deployed 10 aircraft for CarGo operations and will continue this arrangement even after we resume operations at pre-covid capacities. We have learnt a lot of lessons over the last few months on the CarGo side, while strengthening revenue streams and creating new records. We are proud to have played a part in maintaining and supporting supply chains in and out of the country by flying medical supplies, fresh vegetables and other export CarGo. IndiGo will continue to contribute and adapt its business to the needs of the hour”.

 

IndiGo marks 100 days of flying by enabling India’s first ever

IndiGo marks 100 days of flying by enabling India’s first ever
blood plasma transport in CarGo

2^nd airline globally to successfully transport plasma in CarGo

2 bags of convalescent plasma flown from Bengaluru to Srinagar

IndiGo, in its bid to support the country in its fight against the pandemic, created the first ever blood plasma corridor to save the life of a patient suffering from COVID-19. The plasma units were transported on IndiGo CarGo from Bengaluru to Srinagar via connecting flights. The plasma was first flown from Bengaluru to Delhi on 6E 363 followed by the connecting flight from Delhi to Srinagar 6E 2486. The plasma sustained a transit period of over 8 hours and was delivered successfully at the government hospital in Srinagar today. IndiGo is the second airline in the world to have transported plasma successfully onboard CarGo.

Shri B. Sriramulu, Hon'ble Minister, Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Karnataka speaking on the occasion, applauded the efforts of the IndiGo Team who assisted the medical team to achieve this feat on ground and in air! He emphasised the 4th T in the implementation strategy for COVID is Teamwork (5T -Trace, Test, Treat, Teamwork and Training). “It was a proud moment that Karnataka is leading the way to show how we can save lives by flying that extra mile.”

Mr. Ronojoy Dutta, Chief Executive Officer and Wholetime Director, IndiGo said, “At IndiGo, we are continuously looking for opportunities to contribute to the nation and our citizens’ fight against COVID-19. The creation of the first air corridor in India to transport blood plasma can have a huge positive impact on the treatment of COVID-19 patients through plasma therapy. I would like to congratulate the IndiGo CarGo team for making this possible and commencing a new chapter in the history of aviation in India”.

Dr. Vishal Rao, Associate Dean, HCG Cancer Hospital said, “At a time when the medical community is looking at possibilities to save lives of seriously ill COVID-19 patients, plasma therapy is one of the promising lines of treatment being explored. HCG Plasma bank has been able to cater to hundreds of needy critical patients. The creation of a successful air corridor opens up new possibilities for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 with plasma from anywhere in the country. We would like to thank Captain Rahul Srivastava, IndiGo CarGo team and BIAL in helping us save lives by making this possible.”

This was the first instance in the country, where two convalescent COVID Plasma bags were transported in CarGo from Bengaluru to Kashmir for critical COVID-19 patients. Recently, an inter-state green corridor - over a 348-km stretch for 4.5 hours - was created to transport convalescent plasma from HealthCare Global Cancer Hospital in Bengaluru to a private hospital in Chennai on August 04, 2020. Recently the US FDA has authorised the use of plasma therapy. It’s use in moderate, severe and critical illness can yield results of upto 100%, 80% and 60% respectively. Earlier intervention with plasma therapy in patients would be ideal to save more lives.

IndiGo operated repatriation flights for 202

IndiGo operated repatriation flights for 202 stranded Vietnamese citizens

In its endeavour to support the nation in repatriation efforts, IndiGo operated two special flights for Vietnamese nationals in India. The IndiGo flight 6E9103 from Bengaluru-Pune-Delhi transferred total 103 passengers while the flight 6E9102 from Gaya-Delhi transferred 99 passengers to Delhi, for their return flight to Vietnam. The Charter was initiated by Vietnam Embassy and the flights were operated while observing all precautionary measures.

Mr. Ronojoy Dutta, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, “We are pleased to continue our efforts towards repatriation efforts of the Indian government. Our flights aided in the transfer of 202 Vietnamese citizens from Bangalore, Pune and Gaya to Delhi to board their return flight to Vietnam. The Charter was initiated in coordination with the Vietnam Embassy and the Indian government. We would like to extend our gratitude to the government for allowing IndiGo to operate these repatriation flights, which contributed to the safe return of stranded Vietnam Nationals to their homes. We will continue to contribute to the country in every way possible in these trying times”. 

The operations assisted in seamless transfer of 99 citizens from Gaya, 23 from Bengaluru, and 80 from Pune, to Delhi, from where they were flown to Vietnam. The flights also transported about 900kgs of CarGo.

Another record-breaking performance by IndiGo

Another record-breaking performance by IndiGo, uplifts 20,212 kgs of CarGo

Keeping its commitment to support the nation and the government, IndiGo has exceeded its own record by uplifting the highest ever tonnage carried on a passenger flight in ‘freighter mode’. The IndiGo CarGo team set another record by uplifting 20,212 kgs on its Kochi-Abu Dhabi freighter flight 6E 9014 on May 12, 2020 by outpacing its last record of 19,193 kgs on an Airbus 320 Kochi-Abu Dhabi flight. The CarGo team of the airline transported total 70.27 CBM of fruits and vegetables by following all safety measures in the flight.

Mr. Ronojoy Dutta, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, “We have been successful in yet again raising the bar by uplifting 20.21T CarGo on 6E 9014 from Kochi to Abu Dhabi while using our A-320 passenger aircraft in a ‘freighter mode’. We are proud to play a part in maintaining and supporting supply chains in and out of the country at this critical time. I would like to congratulate the CarGo team on their consistent efforts to enhance efficiencies. At IndiGo, we are pleased to contribute in the nation’s time of need as well as adapting our business with innovative solutions”.

Mr Dutta further added, “We are grateful to the government for allowing us to carry cargo in the cabin, which has enabled these operations during the lockdown period.”

With limited cargo and zero passenger operations SpiceJet

With limited cargo and zero passenger operations SpiceJet to part disburse salaries to over 92% employees in April

No lay-offs despite zero passenger operations

In these extremely challenging times when no passenger flights have operated for over a month resulting in our primary revenue source drying up completely, SpiceJet has decided that there would be no job cuts at the airline at this time.

While a number of airlines the world over have been forced to retrench employees and withhold salaries, SpiceJet with its limited cargo operations during the lockdown period, will pay part salaries to over 92% of its employees.

As a fair measure to cater to the requirement of our employees during this complete lock-down situation, the Company has devised a structure where all employees will be paid according to the work hours contributed while maintaining basic thresholds.

The salaries would be credited on May 1.

These are temporary measures during these demanding times and we will consider reverting back to our basic structure upon restart of operations and return to normalcy and shall also be considering suitable allowances for our operating crew who stand together with us amid uncertainty until we restart.