The capital’s IGI airport has requested authorities for faster truck movement and sought staffing of more custom officials to speed up cargo chain. IGIA has emerged as a hub for movement of medical supplies during the coronavirus lockdown.
While schedule passenger flights were suspended on March 25, the airport sees 20 to 22 cargo flights daily. This number is likely to increase in coming days and Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) is creating additional warehouse space of about 5,000 square meters for holding more imports.
DIAL CEO Videh Kumar Jaipriar said: “Delhi airport is functioning 24×7, to handle international and domestic cargo movements for essential commodities including healthcare and medical supplies. The cargo terminal operators — CELEBI and DCSC, pilot/crew members, and ground handling team are following all guidelines of social distancing, sanitisation and health precautions … We have sought support from aviation ministry for getting special permissions for movement of trucks to and from the airport to carry essential goods. Besides, additional warehouse space is being created at the Delhi airport for holding import cargo. We are also pursuing with customs for adequate staff at cargo terminals for faster clearance of goods as more such movements are planned in the coming days.”
Delhi airport’s cargo flights and non-scheduled operations of freighters is happening both within India and to/from international destinations like Doha, Paris, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Incheon.
