First Indian airline to operate dedicated freighter services to Leh
Carries 13 tonnes of cargo supplies on its maiden Delhi to Leh flight service
Freighter services to boost connectivity & supply of essentials during winters
New Delhi, NFAPost: SpiceJet, country’s favourite airline, today launched dedicated freighter services connecting Leh with the rest of the country. The airline operated its first freighter flight from Delhi to Leh carrying 13 tonnes of cargo supplies.
SpiceJet’s first freighter flight SG 7370 departed from Delhi at 9:05 am and reached Leh at 10:40 am. The airline’s first scheduled cargo flight from Leh departed at 11:25 am and was flagged of by Member of Parliament from Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal. The flag off ceremony was attended by senior AAI and SpiceJet officials to celebrate the arrival of the first SpiceJet freighter flight to Leh.
SpiceXpress, the dedicated cargo arm of SpiceJet, will deploy its Boeing 737 freighter on this route. With the launch of the cargo services, SpiceJet is the first and only airline to have dedicated freighter flights connecting Leh.
Surface transport
Commenting on the new cargo flight service, SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh said SpiceJet is proud to launch the country’s first dedicated cargo flights connecting Leh with the National Capital and the rest of the country.
“Our flight services are especially significant considering the extreme weather conditions during winter months when temperatures fall below sub-zero levels hampering the movement of essential supplies and cargo for the local populace and administration in Leh. Our freighter services to Leh will ensure seamless and timely transportation of essential supplies to this most beautiful part of our country throughout winters,” said Ajay Singh.
The new flights launched are seasonal and will operate during the winter months when surface transportation is disrupted owing to harsh weather conditions. Leh, the largest town of the Union Territory of Ladakh, is primarily dominated by a mountainous landscape which makes surface transport even more difficult during the winters when the terrain is mostly covered with snow most of the time.
Logistics & connectivity
In line with its commitment to ensure seamless transportation of essential commodities, SpiceJet aims to address the geographical challenges while offering seamless connectivity through its cargo service.
The dedicated cargo flights will help transport fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, perishables, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and other general cargo. Besides improving logistics and connectivity, the new freighter service will ensure transportation of these essential commodities remains unaffected due to dipping temperatures and adverse weather conditions during these winter months.
SpiceJet operates a fleet of 17 cargo aircraft including three wide-body planes and is the only Indian carrier to operate long-haul non-stop cargo flights to Europe, Africa and CIS countries.
SpiceJet’s international cargo network now spans over 50 international destinations that include Almaty, Abu Dhabi, Baghdad, Bahrain, Bangkok, Bishkek, Cambodia, Cairo, Cebu, Chad, Colombo, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai, Erbil (Iraq), Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Huangzhou, Incheon, Jakarta, Kabul, Kathmandu, Khartoum, Kyrgyzstan, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Male, Moscow, Myanmar, Shanghai, Singapore, Sharjah, Sulaymaniyah, Tashkent, Ukraine, Yekaterinburg (Russia) among others.
International routes
To enhance regional connectivity at various levels, SpiceJet became the first Indian carrier to introduce dedicated cargo flights for North Eastern India in September 2020.
Pioneer of India’s ‘Marine Krishi Udaan’, SpiceJet had launched dedicated freighter flights earlier this year in February 2020, from Chennai & Vishakhapatnam to Surat & Kolkata to boost the country’s shrimp farming.
The airline’s cargo services operate on both domestic and international routes, powered by fully integrated transportation network including air cargo, ground transportation and warehousing facilities across the country.
Since the nationwide lockdown began, the airline has operated more than 10,600 cargo flights and transported over 83000 tonnes of cargo since March 25, 2020.
UDAN scheme
In addition to handling its regular cargo business, SpiceXpress has been regularly transporting surgical supplies, sanitizers, face masks, coronavirus rapid test kits, IR thermometers etc. and providing doorstep deliveries of essential supplies, medicines and medical equipment to various cities in India.
Freighter schedule:
| Flight no. | Origin | Destination | Departure | Arrival | Date of operation |
| SG – 7370 | Delhi | Leh | 09:05 | 10:40 | 26-Nov, 2020 |
| SG – 7371 | Leh | Delhi | 11:25 | 12:50 | 26-Nov, 2020 |
| SG – 7370 | Delhi | Leh | 09:35 | 11:10 | 28-Nov, 2020 |
| SG – 7371 | Leh | Delhi | 11:55 | 13:20 | 28-Nov, 2020 |
| SG – 7370 | Delhi | Leh | 09:05 | 10:40 | 30-Nov, 2020 |
| SG – 7371 | Leh | Delhi | 11:25 | 12:50 | 30-Nov, 2020 |
SpiceJet is India’s favourite airline that has made flying affordable for more Indians than ever before. The airline has a fleet of 72 Boeing 737, 23 Bombardier Q-400s, 14 B737 & Bombardier Q-400 freighters and is the country’s largest regional player operating 57 daily flights under UDAN or the Regional Connectivity Scheme. The majority of the airline’s fleet offers SpiceMax, the most spacious economy class seating in India.
The airline also operates a dedicated air cargo service under the brand name SpiceXpress offering safe, on-time, efficient and seamless cargo connectivity across India and on international routes.
