1st passenger to cargo flight lands at Hyderabad

Hyderabad International Airport handled its firstever commercial cargo service from Russia with the landing of Aeroflot Airlines. For the first time, a commercial B777 Passenger to Cargo (P to C) flight landed at Hyderabad International Airport to uplift the pharmaceuticals to Moscow. This aircraft carried general pharma (approx. 20 different types of medicines and vaccines) and took off with a full load of approximately 50 tonnes both in belly as well as fastened cargo-on-seats. This was a one of its kind wide body ‘P to C’ Cargo flight movement for Hyderabad.

Currently, the service of Aeroflot freighter is limited to the COVID-19 lockdown period. Hyderabad Airport is pursuing to have a regular weekly frequency of this freighter, which if it works out, will enable a direct connectivity of Hyderabad to Russia and other CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries. CIS countries have a major demand for pharmaceuticals and this freighter can open up a direct gateway to the CIS countries. This sector also has a demand for aerospace, engineering and general cargo.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo has handled all kinds of goods including essential and perishable products along with majorly COVID-19 relief material, pharmaceuticals, engineering, IT, aerospace, perishables and console cargo. During this period from the commencement of lockdown till date, the airport has handled approx. 5,500 tonnes of cargo.